ERIC Number: EJ1003945
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Apr
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0013-2004
EISSN: N/A
Understanding Morality from an Evolutionary Perspective: Challenges and Opportunities
Keefer, Matthew W.
Educational Theory, v63 n2 p113-131 Apr 2013
In recent years, there has been a proliferation of new research on moral thinking informed by evolutionary theory. The new findings have emanated from a wide variety of fields. While there is no shortage of theoretical models that attempt to account for specific research findings, Matthew Keefer's goals in this essay are more general. First, he examines the strength of the evolutionary approach to understanding morality and moral emotions as adaptations to cooperation. Second, he considers the importance of unconscious processing for generating ethical (or unethical) behavior and the complex relation among moral emotions, intuitions, and conscious moral reasoning. Third, he underscores the importance of understanding self-deception and self-serving biases in moral thinking and behavior. Keefer ends the essay with a discussion of some implications of these considerations for professional ethics and moral education. (Contains 59 footnotes.)
Descriptors: Moral Development, Decision Making, Moral Values, Evolution, Theories, Cooperation, Adjustment (to Environment), Ethics, Models, Ethical Instruction, Cognitive Psychology, Neurological Organization, Neuropsychology, Deception, Self Concept, Bias, Role, Psychological Patterns
Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2429/WileyCDA/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A