The Moral Brain: A Multidisciplinary Perspective

by Jean Decety (Contributor), Thalia Wheatley (Editor)

Over the past decade, an explosion of empirical research in a variety of fields has allowed us to understand human moral sensibility as a sophisticated integration of cognitive, emotional, and motivational mechanisms shaped through evolution, development, and culture. Evolutionary biologists have shown that moral cognition evolved to aid cooperation; developmental psychologists have demonstrated that the elements that underpin morality are in place much earlier than we thought; and social neuroscientists have begun to map brain circuits implicated in moral decision making. This volume offers an overview of current research on the moral brain, examining the topic from disciplinary perspectives that range from anthropology and neurophilosophy to justice and law.

The contributors address the evolution of morality, considering precursors of human morality in other species as well as uniquely human adaptations. They examine motivations for morality, exploring the roles of passion, extreme sacrifice, and cooperation. They go on to consider the development of morality, from infancy to adolescence; findings on neurobiological mechanisms of moral cognition; psychopathic immorality; and the implications for justice and law of a more biological understanding of morality. These new findings may challenge our intuitions about society and justice, but they may also lead to more a humane and flexible legal system.

ContributorsScott Atran, Abigail A. Baird, Nicolas Baumard, Sarah Brosnan, Jason M. Cowell, Molly J. Crockett, Ricardo de Oliveira-Souza, Andrew W. Delton, Mark R. Dadds, Jean Decety, Jeremy Ginges, Andrea L. Glenn, Joshua D. Greene, J. Kiley Hamlin, David J. Hawes, Jillian Jordan, Max M. Krasnow, Ayelet Lahat, Jorge Moll, Caroline Moul, Thomas Nadelhoffer, Alexander Peysakhovich, Laurent Pretot, Jesse Prinz, David G. Rand, Rheanna J. Remmel, Emma Roellke, Regina A. Rini, Joshua Rottman, Mark Sheskin, Thalia Wheatley, Liane Young, Roland Zahn

Genres: Psychology, Science, Philosophy

338 pages, Hardcover

First published February 27, 2015

Reviews

[Wing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books explains that the ultimate function of morality is group cohesion and competitiveness. Genuine kindness and concern towards others are some of its proximate mechanisms. Infants are endowed with the rudimentary capacity to perceive emotions and intentions in others, and the sense of fairness. Both serve as foundations to learn and build up their future moral life. Different neural circuits are responsible for deontic and consequentialist thinking. These explain the inevitability of moral dilemma. Chapters on psychopathology and neurochemistry reinforces the physicalist stance of this collection of essays. It is truly interdisciplinary and well referenced. Five stars.