Analyzing Pinker's Essay on Moral Instinct

These individuals are known to be experts of morality. The chapter proposes two reasons as to why these individuals are called upon so frequently. One, for those who believe and have some sort of religious back round, and second, for those who believe in what is called a “scientific view” of the world. This chapter presents the idea that there is some popular belief that religion and morality go hand in hand and that in order to understand morality, you must understand religion. It is explained that when we view morality from a religious perspective, we give meaning to morality in a way that a “good man” made this world that we currently live in and that we are his children. While the book proposes the question that people who believe in God, or a higher power, base their values on what those religions state is right or wrong, whereas for an atheist the question still remains; how do these individuals weigh their moral compass and place their values?

Therefore, by incorporating activities that promote class discussion, my students can potentially advance to higher levels of moral reasoning. When I first meet my students, I will introduce them to the Heinz Dilemma. Additionally, I will give them specific instructions stating that they are not to discuss the dilemma with anyone. Next, I will provide them with a survey of multiple choice and open-ended questions based on the Heinz Dilemma. Once again, the students will not be allowed to discuss their answers to the survey with their classmates. The results from this survey will provide me with my students’ initial level of moral reasoning. I will keep these initial surveys to reflect back on at the end of the

In The Moral Instinct, Steven Pinker cites Haidt’s “primary colors” of the moral sense (329). Pinker believes that all moral decisions can be categorized with these primary colors and, though everyone can see these colors, they are prioritized differently by different people. Haidt identifies five primaries—harm, fairness, community, authority, and purity—all of which make up the moral spectrum. These recurring moral themes can be found everywhere from cultural norms to the decisions and beliefs of individuals. Though the themes can be identified in works regarding ethics and morality, they—if applied correctly—can also give insight into the way the author prioritizes the moral colors.

Does influence towards children affect their perception of morality? The upbringing of a child has a strong effect on him or her mainly since the information parents give to their kids at a very young age stays with them throughout their lives. In the essay “The Moral Instinct” by Steven Pinker, morality is based both on an individual’s own perceptions and what he or she is taught. Pinker constantly implies how pressure in society changes our idea of moral versus immoral especially since adults teach young people what is right and what is wrong. In relation to Pinker’s essay, other writings show how children are not only influenced by learned

It is a striking project; comprised of three essays- each with the aim of stripping the reader’s pre-conceptions of morality, and instead offering the

It does not, however, accept that we would need a special perception or intuition that does not exist in order to understand these features. Non-naturalists embrace the idea of ethical intuitionism, the belief that we learn about moral properties through direct observation (Ridge). The second half of the “Argument from Queerness” provides non-naturalists with another objection to error theory. Mackie claims that if moral truths did exist, they would have to be intrinsically overridingly motivational. He bases this idea of strong motivational internalism on Plato’s Form of the Good. The notion that moral truths must be overridingly motivational is an extreme interpretation that is not widely accepted. Instead, non-naturalists make a case for weak motivational internalism; this understanding “allows that even though the person who makes a sincere moral judgment will feel some motivation to comply with it, that motivation can be overridden by conflicting desires and defeated by a variety of mental maladies” (Rosati). Weak motivational internalism accounts for those who make moral judgments but do not abide by them. Another way to explain these individuals is to deny the idea that beliefs must be motivational altogether, and instead propose a

whether the action was right or wrong, (Pecorino, 2000). The theory finds that morality is inherent

While Tolhurst and Shafer-Landau raise some legitimate concerns regarding the studies, they seem to boil down to a simple dilemma. We have to ask whether these studies suggest an inherent defect in our ability to form moral intuitions or whether they merely show that, under special conditions, our moral intuitions can be “tricked” by clever experimenters.

In “The Moral Instinct” Steven Pinker claims that people can think that something is wrong, but cannot prove that it is amoral. Pinker explains that this is because morality varies from person to person. Another point in the essay is made about whether the greater good is equal to helping the greater number of people in a situation. In some of his examples the moral dilemma involves killing one person to save five other people’s lives. Both scenarios are very similar, but one involves using a lever to switch the direction of the trolley, while the other involves throwing a person off of a bridge to save the other five people. Each scenario involve the same end result; one person dying to save the other five people, but people are less likely

Pinker depicts that moralization is used to reduce harm but it is done rationally mostly without real reasoning.

To preface, it is necessary to outline the basics of morality to better grasp exactly what is meant by the phrase within my thesis statement: “inherently moral.” Understand, however, that the nature of human moral code is not fully understood, and it is difficult to present any one hypothesis without encountering a flaw in logic.

Driver’s main argument in regards to possessing morality appears to be the presence of consciousness, sentience, and rationality (Driver, N.D., p. 3). In order to have

In this essay I am going to be looking at all the different view points on why some people may think religion and morality are linked. I will talk about a few things that link them such as conscience, divine command ethics, Kant 's view and Aquinas ' view. Many people believe that morality is based upon religion and the rules written in the Bible and other holy books, although some say that religion is completely opposed to morality and it is wrong to mix the two.

The second level of moral development is the conventional moral reasoning; “Beginning in middle school, up to middle age – most people end up here” (“Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development.”). At this level,

Morality is an important component of a human being because it helps shape the ethical foundation that every human being has. Whether to be good, evil, honest, or deceitful are just some of the traits morality helps us develop. Thus, it is evident that morality is a crucial component of a human being. However, what ultimately drives moral action? This question is debated and investigated against many philosophers, a few of them being Thomas Hobbes, Frans de Waal, and David Hume.