Feeling our way to right and wrong - The Diigo Meta page

• 23 Mar 09
  

  Rudy Garns

  Whatever role one believes emotions should play in moral judgment, new research demonstrates that the influence of these low-level passions is profound. In fact, a study published in Science earlier this month suggests that many moral judgments are mediated by the same emotional mechanism that is activated by rotten leftovers and dirty socks. (Olivia Scheck)

  neuroethics ethics disgust aapt grue cogsci emotion

  • many moral judgments are mediated by the same emotional mechanism that is activated by rotten leftovers and dirty socks
  • the authors used electromyography to compare the activation of facial muscles in response to bitter tastes, pictures of physically disgusting stimuli and, finally, moral transgressions. Not only was the disgust expression elicited in all three conditions, it was also shown to predict future moral decisions – suggesting not only that moral disgust exists, but that it is – to a surprising degree – driving our behavior.
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  H. A. Chapman, D. A. Kim, J. M. Susskind, A. K. Anderson: In Bad Taste: Evidence for the Oral Origins of Moral Disgust, Science 27 February 2009:
  Vol. 323. no. 5918, pp. 1222 - 1226

  philosophy science mind

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