Methodological Issues in the Neuroscience of Moral Judgement

Mind and Language 25 (5):561-582 (2010)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Neuroscience and psychology have recently turned their attention to the study of the subpersonal underpinnings of moral judgment. In this article we critically examine an influential strand of research originating in Greene's neuroimaging studies of ‘utilitarian’ and ‘non-utilitarian’ moral judgement. We argue that given that the explananda of this research are specific personal-level states—moral judgments with certain propositional contents—its methodology has to be sensitive to criteria for ascribing states with such contents to subjects. We argue that current research has often failed to meet this constraint by failing to correctly ‘fix’ key aspects of moral judgment, criticism we support by detailed examples from the scientific literature

Author Profiles

Guy Kahane
Oxford University
Nicholas Shackel
Cardiff University

Analytics

Added to PP
2009-06-06

Downloads
1,215 (#8,657)

6 months
92 (#39,073)

Historical graph of downloads since first upload
This graph includes both downloads from PhilArchive and clicks on external links on PhilPapers.
How can I increase my downloads?