Beyond point-and-shoot morality: why cognitive (neuro)science matters for ethics
Abstract
In this article I explain why cognitive science (including some neuroscience) matters for normative ethics. First, I describe the dual-process theory of moral judgment and briefly summarize the evidence supporting it. Next I describe related experimental research examining influences on intuitive moral judgment. I then describe two ways in which research along these lines can have implications for ethics. I argue that a deeper understanding of moral psychology favors certain forms of consequentialism over other classes of normative moral theory. I close with some brief remarks concerning the bright future of ethics as an interdisciplinary enterprise.
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In high-conflict personal dilemmas, most people refuse to sacrifice one person to save five.
“However, in a high-conflict personal dilemma (such as Footbridge problem8), most people would refuse to sacrifice one person to save five (Greene, 2014).”
From Exploring moral algorithm preferences in autonomous vehicle dilemmas: an empirical study (2023) · cites this paper as Greene, 2014
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- Authors
- Greene, J. D.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Greene, Joshua D.
- ORCID
- Greene, Joshua D.
- Venue
- Ethics
- Publisher
- University of Chicago Press
- Published
- 2014-07
- Volume
- 124
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 695-726
- ISSN
- 0014-1704 (ISSN-L)
- 1539-297X
- OpenAlex
- W1974538016
- Cited by
- 375
- References
- 62
- Citations by year
- 2026: 20 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 50 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 28 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 4
- FWCI
- 14.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Ethics (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Philosophical Ethics and Theory
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Ethics in Business and Education
- Keywords
- cognitive science of morality, neuroscience of morality, dual-process theory, moral judgment, moral psychology, consequentialism, normative ethics, interdisciplinary ethics
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