ISBN : 9780198811572
There is a growing pessimism about ordinary moral thought and action in light of scientific research. The evidence seems to suggest that our moral minds are ultimately driven by mere feelings, self-interest, evolutionary pressures, simplistic heuristics, irrational biases, and a variety of extraneous factors. Even if moral knowledge and virtue are possible on this view, they are exceedingly rare or require us to resist our normal modes of moral deliberation. Joshua May digs into the scientific and philosophical literature and reveals that there is room for optimism: moral judgment and motivation are fundamentally rational enterprises not beholden to the passions.
Introduction
1 Empirical Pessimism
Part A: Moral Judgement and Knowledge
2 The Limits of Emotion
3 Reasoning Beyond Consequences
4 Defending Moral Judgment
5 The Difficulty of Moral Knowledge
Part B: Moral Motivation and Virtue
6 Beyond Self-Interest
7 The Motivational Power of Moral Beliefs
8 Freeing Reason from Desire
9 Defending Virtuous Motivation
Conclusion
10 Cautious Optimism