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8 - Moral psychology

Andrew Fisher
Affiliation:
University of Nottingham
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Summary

When asked if he wore the skin face masks over a prolonged time: “Not too long, I had other things to do.”

Ed Gein (murderer and grave robber)

CHAPTER AIMS

  • Explain internalism and externalism about motivation.

  • Explain the Humean account of motivation.

  • Explain the implications from issues in moral psychology.

  • Outline some potential worries for discussions about moral psychology.

Introduction: not “getting it”

The [psychopath] is unfamiliar with the primary facts or data of what might be called personal values and is altogether incapable of understanding such matters. It is impossible for him to take even the slightest interest in the tragedy or joy or the striving of humanity as presented in serious literature or art. He is also indifferent to all these matters in life itself. Beauty and ugliness, except in a very superficial sense, goodness, evil, love, horror, and humor have no actual meaning, no power to move him. He is, furthermore, lacking in the ability to see that others are moved. It is as though he were color-blind, despite his sharp intelligence, to this aspect of human existence. It cannot be explained to him because there is nothing in his orbit of awareness that can bridge the gap with comparison. He can repeat the words and say glibly that he understands, and there is no way for him to realize that he does not understand.

(Cleckley 1941: 90, emphasis added)
Type
Chapter
Information
Metaethics
An Introduction
, pp. 127 - 140
Publisher: Acumen Publishing
Print publication year: 2011

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  • Moral psychology
  • Andrew Fisher, University of Nottingham
  • Book: Metaethics
  • Online publication: 05 February 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/UPO9781844652594.010
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  • Moral psychology
  • Andrew Fisher, University of Nottingham
  • Book: Metaethics
  • Online publication: 05 February 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/UPO9781844652594.010
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Moral psychology
  • Andrew Fisher, University of Nottingham
  • Book: Metaethics
  • Online publication: 05 February 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/UPO9781844652594.010
Available formats
×