Midterm 1 Flashcards
Tyler Cowan stories: #, problems (3), solution
We think our world up in stories - you fit the world and your experiences into the same mould constantly # = 7 Probs: 1) too simply, always about intention 2) too simplistic 3) outsiders can manipulate us (pruvit) Solution: get comfortable with messy
Cowan - moral psychology of stories
- we care about how we are understood in MORAL terms
- we make poorer decisions (based on story)
- virtue signalling through altered stories helps us keep our good/moral persona
How do we simplify stories (6)
- heuristics
- attitude heuristic (your attitude about them is basis for evaluation of info Trudeau)
- stereotypes (a liberal is…)
- ad hominem (attacking motives vs position)
- confirmatory bias (efficient processing)
- emotions (gut feel)
ad hominem
attacking motives vs position
Definition of moral psyc
Adjective: Psyc process to define/experience qualifying themes (right/wrong, etc)
Noun: Psyc suggests morality can be internalized; process in becoming moral/moral conduct
Moral imperative
Psyc process for sense of ought.
Moral Psyc class defn
1) Psyc process in defining/experiencing people and conduct as good/bad; sense of OUGHT.
2) What it means to become/conduct as moral/immoral
3) Moral is understand as distal (mechanism) and proximal (social norms)
Distal
mechanism
Proximal
social norms
Philosophy theories of morality: NORMATIVE
Normative ethics: rationality, impartiality, logic, empirical
- Ethical egoism
- Utilitarianism
- Kant categorical
- Social contract
Philosophy theories of morality: META-ETHICS
Understanding nature of ethical conduct
- ie good v bad, wrong v right. universal v relative
Ethical egoism (normative)
Rational self interest
Utilitarianism (normative)
Greatest happiness for greatest number
Kant categorical
universality
Social contract
mutual benefit
Psyc in normative ethics
Psyc is a descriptive natural science
- understanding human experience can help moral theories to be better grounded
- moral theories based on human nature/psyc assumptions
Psyc in meta-ethics
Can be viewed assoc w/ethical naturalism - some things about humans are relevant to moral life; Psyc helps understand WHY
Is vs Ought perspectives (3)
Hume’s guillotine: sharp defn between the two; separate morality from natural world face (she is lying, lying hurts/should not lie, should stop)
Moore naturalistic fallacy: good/bad is construct with links to natural world (good is blue)
Pinker moralistic fallacy: if doesn’t exist in nature, its bad. (mercy kill/lions/good)
Latimer case:
Moral philosophy issues
How to get to morally acceptable position
Moral Phil:-
- sanctity of life
- discrimination of handicapped
- slippery slope
Reason: 2 keys requirements
- optimal stance thru reason/justification in support of principle
- each person is equally important
Latimer case: Psyc considerations
- suffering of children/sanctity of life - need to believe in a just world causes extreme reactions when assoc with children
- frame of reference (jury or supreme)
Latimer: Psyc understanding and normative ethics - balancing considerations
Counterfactual thinking (can imagine alternative)
Emotionally charged (emotions as data)
Trolley problem: moral psyc
2 different process systems(Greene):
- sys1: close/personal = auto response, highly emotional (footbridge push man)
- sys2: impersonal = more cognition/reason, less emotion (trolley switch)
Deontological ethics
RULE based
In Trolley - don’t push fat guy)
Consequentialism ethics
OUTCOME based
In Trolley - pull lever
Religion and Psyc
Religion: morality in supernatural forms, requires no justification
Difference: Psyc/Phil require logic and justification, can’t answer re important of god
Challenges for naturalistic accounts (normative/psyc) (5)
- weak explanations
- may counter existing more views
- not directly observable
- morality is complex
- naturalistic methods difficult in studying morality (social desirability can be problem)
Biology and Moral Psyc
- bio can inform on human nature/morality: ie: self interest/corrupt
2 areas where bio informs psyc
evolution
bio processes/neuro
legitimate evolved mechanisms examples
fears, mate selection, homicide, altruism, paternity uncertainty
Prob with Psyc in evolution
always post hoc
Evo Psyc and morality examples
sympathy, altruism, cheer punishment, guilt, reciprocity, justice
Adaptations: physical, psyc
Phys: bellybutton (by product), male nipples (noise)
Psyc: reciprocity: due to interconnectedness, only where adaptation is required
moral experience and behaviour varies by: (3)
distal environ: ancestors
Proximal: where situation is relevant
Building override: behaviour modification
Why study hominoids?
Behaviour is analogous (selection pressure, environ)
Behaviour is homogeneous (common ancestor, inherited)
Frans de Waal study results (4)
Sharing/exchange
Conflict resolution
Community concern
Empathy/Sympathy/Consolation
FdW: Sharing/exchange results
Reciprocal altruism
- giving to non kin
- expectation of reciprocity/mutual benefit
Fundamental adaptive evolution trait important for morality - can’t exist w/o;
also applies to harm/revenge
Capuchins: mostly female, passive sharing
- requires calculated reciprocity vs proximity
Conclusions:
- calc reciprocity shows OUGHT creation (becomes a moral prob)
- precursor to human justice
FdW: Conflict resolution
Must have psyc tools to solve conflict
- in hierarchy, dominant resolves but more tools displayed where not hierarchical
Moral tools:
- reconciliation, conflict intervention, proactive intervention, mediation
Evidence:
- friendly reunion (reconcil) Nikkie/Hennie
- conflict intervention dominant - alpha male/2 juvies
- proactive “ “ - dominant on behalf of victim
- mediation - 2 fighting males, female intervenes
FdW: community concern
Interventions suggesting need for quality of community - inhibit actions that influence group harmony
Evidence:
- celebration after conflict
- punish rule violators
- indirect reciprocity
- docile characters
FdW: Empathy/Sympathy, Consolation
E/S co-evolved, although not necessary for other elements
Precursor: learned adjustment
Evidence:
- succourant behaviour
- console others
Implications for FdW study for humans
Evidence of evolution, no thought required
Moral systems evolved to balance individual with social
Not mechanisms to control brutish behaviour
FdW: Tendencies in human morality (4)
Sympathy, normative social rules, reciprocity, getting alone
Where do humans exceed primates?
Cognitive empathy, internalize rules, sense of justice, anticipating resources needs for all
Paper: Tooby
Interest in cognitive reciprocity as it relates to business
Brain is special evolved programs - action without thought
Social contract theory
Once everyone has understanding, becomes a social contract
Cheater detection
Reciprocal altruism
Study: Tooby/Cosm
Ppl have confirmatory bias - used logic experiment to do a social contract version of it. 17 yrs and beer.
Design/features:
- exchange elements
- variable for perspective
- rule specifies benefit
- cheat violations must be intentional
Not explained by:
- familiarity
- logic
- general permission rule
Study Tooby/cos implications
Cheater detection works best in small groups - cog load too heavy when larger
In large groups, no transparency to catch cheaters
Have no comparable adaptations for procedureal requirements in contemporary
Free riders - punitive, meant to eliminate fitness advantage
Pure free riding designs may no longer exist - not small groups anymore, now have contingency (will I get caught)
Moral sentiment: free riders
Punish free riders - - people willingg to cooperate in group goals BUT have punitive reaction to free riders
Preference for punishment - removes selective advantage
The more I contribute, the more I need to punish free riders.
Reward and punishment are not fungible/exchangable
Free riders
Design need to account for variable levels of contribution, mechanism for free riding
Conditions for evolution of morality
Group value, mutual aid, internal conflict
