The Science of Morality

Birth of A New Discipline(?): “The Science of Morality”

Image: http://www.artinthepicture.com/artists/Alessandro_Botticelli/birth.jpeg /

Tim Zebohttp://www.slideshare.net/jerseyguy http://www.facebook.com/[email protected]

UUCMC DialogJanuary 16, 2011

http://www.artinthepicture.com/artists/Alessandro_Botticelli/birth.jpeg

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“The Moral Landscape” (293 pages)

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References (~880; 14%)

Notes(364;15%)

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Judgments of Facts & Values

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Facts: the way things are - “This DVD weighs .55 ounces” Values: what’s worthwhile (or not)?

• Aesthetic- “This is great science fiction”• Comparative- “Star Wars #1 is better than #2.”•Instrumental- “Netflix can easily mail this.”• Interpretive- “War will always be with us.”•Moral-”It’s wrong to copy this DVD based on harm, fairness & authority.”

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Brain States of Conscious Creatures

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? ?

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Morality <=> Well-Being (Brain States)

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Premise: Flourishing depends on measurable facts

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Brain States

Individual & Group Behaviors

World Conditions: Cultural, Economic, Political, Environmental, etc., etc., etc.

Outcomes for Human Flourishing: “The Moral Landscape”

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Good LivesBad Lives

Terrific Lives

Horrible Lives

Premise: Some have better lives than others

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Good LivesBad Lives

Terrific Lives

Horrible Lives

• What are the dimensions of human flourishing?• Do UU’s Seven Principles cover all the dimensions?


Possible Dialog TopicsPossible Dialog Topics

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Why should we care? The Moral Landscape: “Introduction”

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• What risks does “faith” (belief without evidence) pose to human flourishing? • What risks does “faith” (belief without evidence) pose to human flourishing?

Possible Dialog TopicPossible Dialog Topic

“Science & religion are in conflict because evidence & reasoning trump “faith” when it comes to understanding reality.”

“Science & religion are in conflict because evidence & reasoning trump “faith” when it comes to understanding reality.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7h08RDYA5E

U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce CommitteeChairmanFred Upton (R-MI) – “Every member and every subcommittee will be on the frontlines as we take on federal agencies to target areas to immediately cut spending."Subcommittee on Environment and EconomyChair - John Shimkus (R-IL)Vice Chair - Tim Murphy (R-PA)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7h08RDYA5E

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Chapter 1: “Moral Truth”

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• “That feminists in the West remain silent about this deeply ingrained and institutionalized mistreatment of women is a scandal of our time.” What, if anything, should UUs do about “women in cloth bags”?

• “That feminists in the West remain silent about this deeply ingrained and institutionalized mistreatment of women is a scandal of our time.” What, if anything, should UUs do about “women in cloth bags”?


http://tbknews.blogspot.com/2007/10/violent-oppression-of-women-in-islam.html

• Even educated people today mistakenly believe there is only moral preference; Harris disagrees

• Well Being, like health, lies on a continuum defined by goals - both can be measured using science and reason as tools.

• Science can measure the best & worst possible lives (e.g., “women in cloth bags”).

• Even educated people today mistakenly believe there is only moral preference; Harris disagrees

• Well Being, like health, lies on a continuum defined by goals - both can be measured using science and reason as tools.

• Science can measure the best & worst possible lives (e.g., “women in cloth bags”).

Chapter TextChapter Text

http://tbknews.blogspot.com/2007/10/violent-oppression-of-women-in-islam.html

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Chapter 2: “Good & Evil”

• Brain science of human cooperation is still a mystery!

• Our moral “blind spots” (e.g., genocide neglect)• Great cruelty comes from idea that humans

possess a soul independent of : genes, parents, culture, economics, disease, etc.

• How often does “evil” depend on a nutritional deficiency?

• When is our impulse for retribution profoundly flawed? (Aggression to outsiders HUs: 1; Chimps: 200x)

• Illusion of free will, moral realism, consequentialism, contractualism, etc.

• Brain science of human cooperation is still a mystery!

• Our moral “blind spots” (e.g., genocide neglect)• Great cruelty comes from idea that humans

possess a soul independent of : genes, parents, culture, economics, disease, etc.

• How often does “evil” depend on a nutritional deficiency?

• When is our impulse for retribution profoundly flawed? (Aggression to outsiders HUs: 1; Chimps: 200x)

• Illusion of free will, moral realism, consequentialism, contractualism, etc.


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Would we lose anything if we spoke of “well-being” instead of “right”, “good”, “moral”, “evil”, etc ?

Would we lose anything if we spoke of “well-being” instead of “right”, “good”, “moral”, “evil”, etc ?

Possible Dialog TopicPossible Dialog Topic http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~baron/journal/7303a/jdm7303a.htm

http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~baron/journal/7303a/jdm7303a.htm



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Chapter 3: “Belief”

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• “Belief formation is influenced by many sub-conscious processes (e.g., Soc. Sec. #’s & # MDs in San Francisco)

• Skeptics given L-DOPA are more likely to accept metaphysical reasons for natural phenomena.”

• “Belief formation is influenced by many sub-conscious processes (e.g., Soc. Sec. #’s & # MDs in San Francisco)

• Skeptics given L-DOPA are more likely to accept metaphysical reasons for natural phenomena.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYtYQ0a7btQ

• “Perhaps deception, even more than violence, is the chief enemy of human cooperation.”

• “Perhaps deception, even more than violence, is the chief enemy of human cooperation.”


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYtYQ0a7btQ

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Chapter 4: “Religion” “Cannot be the source for moral truth”

• Even fundamentalists have to “edit the books”:

• Love neighbor as self • Stone any woman who’s

not a virgin on her wedding night

• Even fundamentalists have to “edit the books”:

• Love neighbor as self • Stone any woman who’s

not a virgin on her wedding night

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World Sciences World Religions

http://www.project-reason.org/gallery3/image/105/

Contradictions in the Bible

http://www.project-reason.org/gallery3/image/105/

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Chapter 5: “The Future of Happiness”

• Hard problem: well-being & satisfaction depend on history: - drug addict or Oprah?

• Easier to speak of “moving up” or “moving down”

• “Happiness” Science finds: We very poorly: - remember past - perceive present - predict future

• Our experiencing self & remembering self often disagree!

• Hard problem: well-being & satisfaction depend on history: - drug addict or Oprah?

• Easier to speak of “moving up” or “moving down”

• “Happiness” Science finds: We very poorly: - remember past - perceive present - predict future

• Our experiencing self & remembering self often disagree!


tjz-14• Is it ethical to prolong minor suffering to create happier memories?• Is it ethical to prolong minor suffering to create happier memories?


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Comments by Steven PinkerHarvard Philosopher; Author, “How the Mind Works”

• Terrible reasons to believe what’s “right” & “wrong” are:

• Faith (belief without evidence)

• Subjective certainty• Scripture• Authority

• Science has informed advances in our morality:

• Torture• Racism

• Terrible reasons to believe what’s “right” & “wrong” are:

• Faith (belief without evidence)

• Subjective certainty• Scripture• Authority

• Science has informed advances in our morality:

• Torture• Racism

AgreesAgrees

• If “science” is ONLY biology, chemistry & physics, it’s necessary, but NOT sufficient, to determine right from wrong

• Reasoning (NOT science or religion) that brought about changes in our criminal justice system

• Only administer enough punishment to deter without a perverse incentive structure

• The worse the crime, the worse the punishment

• If “science” is ONLY biology, chemistry & physics, it’s necessary, but NOT sufficient, to determine right from wrong

• Reasoning (NOT science or religion) that brought about changes in our criminal justice system

• Only administer enough punishment to deter without a perverse incentive structure

• The worse the crime, the worse the punishment

ReservationsReservations

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fbplK-J5IA

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Comments by Lawrence KraussPhysicist, The Origins Project, Author, “Quantum Man:

Richard Feynman’s Life in Science”

• Our morality is constrained by our biology AND the social contract• It’s impossible to define morality without science (=“secular empiricism”)• Science is the way to determine the consequences of our actions• Science ethos: honesty, openess, creativity, anti-authoritarianism, full

disclosure==a moral society• When humans behave irrationally it’s usually based on incomplete

information (e.g., Stem cell debate: Blastocysts cannot be used for reproduction; there is no “moment of conception” – huge number of steps between the union of sperm and egg and a new entity

• Questions science can ask & answer: • Is a woman safer if she’s in a cloth bag?• Is her self-worth improved?• Is she freer to manifest her capabilities as a human being?

• Our morality is constrained by our biology AND the social contract• It’s impossible to define morality without science (=“secular empiricism”)• Science is the way to determine the consequences of our actions• Science ethos: honesty, openess, creativity, anti-authoritarianism, full

disclosure==a moral society• When humans behave irrationally it’s usually based on incomplete

information (e.g., Stem cell debate: Blastocysts cannot be used for reproduction; there is no “moment of conception” – huge number of steps between the union of sperm and egg and a new entity

• Questions science can ask & answer: • Is a woman safer if she’s in a cloth bag?• Is her self-worth improved?• Is she freer to manifest her capabilities as a human being?

Agrees that:Agrees that:

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcL8oFgSESE

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Comments by Simon BlackburnBertrand Russel Professor of Philosophy at Cambridge,

Author, “How to Read Hume”

• Empirical investigation is good idea

• We should be more charitable & loyal

• Recognize that charity often goes awry (e.g., Biafra food aid)

• Benefits come when values are tempered by science (e.g., male & female brain studies will help break down gender barriers)

• Empirical investigation is good idea

• We should be more charitable & loyal

• Recognize that charity often goes awry (e.g., Biafra food aid)

• Benefits come when values are tempered by science (e.g., male & female brain studies will help break down gender barriers)

AgreesAgrees

• Two kinds of mental states:• Beliefs: knowledge about the

world• Desires/Concerns: motivators

to change the world• Values reflect desires; things that

“must” be done• Difficulty: What IS human

flourishing? Drugged zombie?; Fool’s Paradise (Delusion)?; Suppressed desires (Stoic)?; Greediness?

• How to prioritize well-being of self vs family vs friends vs world?

• Two kinds of mental states:• Beliefs: knowledge about the

world• Desires/Concerns: motivators

to change the world• Values reflect desires; things that

“must” be done• Difficulty: What IS human

flourishing? Drugged zombie?; Fool’s Paradise (Delusion)?; Suppressed desires (Stoic)?; Greediness?

• How to prioritize well-being of self vs family vs friends vs world?

ReservationsReservations

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8vYq6Xm2To

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Let’s Dialog

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• What are the dimensions of human flourishing?• Do UU’s Seven Principles cover all the dimensions? • What risks does “faith” (belief without evidence) pose to human flourishing?

• What, if anything, should UUs do about “women in cloth bags”?

• Perhaps deception, even more than violence, is the chief enemy of human cooperation

• Is it ethical to prolong minor suffering to create happier memories?

• What else?

• What are the dimensions of human flourishing?• Do UU’s Seven Principles cover all the dimensions? • What risks does “faith” (belief without evidence) pose to human flourishing?

• What, if anything, should UUs do about “women in cloth bags”?

• Perhaps deception, even more than violence, is the chief enemy of human cooperation

• Is it ethical to prolong minor suffering to create happier memories?

• What else?

Possible Dialog Topics: RecapPossible Dialog Topics: Recap

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Dialog Topic: Dimensions of Human Flourishing & UU’s 7 Principles

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Moral actions to cultivate because they increase human flourishing: Health

• Physical: Eating/exercise habits keeping you at a healthy weight• Emotional: Thinking habits keeping you feeling good• Cognitive: Thinking habits keeping you thinking rationally• Sexual: All habits keeping you sexual satisfied

Financial• Spending habits keeping you out of debt

(Friendly & Healthy) Social & Political• Family: etc.• Friends: etc.• Neighbors: etc.• Churches, clubs, teams, … : etc.• Strangers: etc.

Environmental …(Unfriendly & Unhealthy) Social & Political

• e.g., Sociopaths = 3% Males, 1% Females …

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Dialog Topic: Human Flourishing & Declaration of Human Rights

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Moral actions to cultivate because they increase human flourishing: Health

• Physical: Eating/exercise habits keeping you at a healthy weight• Emotional: Thinking habits keeping you feeling good• Cognitive: Thinking habits keeping you thinking rationally• Sexual: All habits keeping you sexual satisfied

Financial• Spending habits keeping you out of debt




?

??

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Dialog Topic: Human Flourishing & The Ten Commandments

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(“Immoral”?) Actions to avoid because they decrease human flourishing?: Health

• Physical: Eating/exercise habits keeping you from a healthy weight• Emotional: Thinking habits keeping you from feeling good• Cognitive: Thinking habits keeping you from thinking rationally• Sexual: All habits keeping you from sexual satisfaction

Financial• Spending habits keeping you in debt




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The Moral Landscape: “Introduction”

• Better or worse human flourishing? - depends on facts about brain states, the world & behavior

• Values do derive from facts (e.g., DVD copies lead to measurable harm)

• Hume (“ought from is”) & Gould (“NOMA”) are simply mistaken.

• Better or worse human flourishing? - depends on facts about brain states, the world & behavior

• Values do derive from facts (e.g., DVD copies lead to measurable harm)

• Hume (“ought from is”) & Gould (“NOMA”) are simply mistaken.


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• Dennett: “If ‘ought’ cannot be derived from ‘is’, what can it be derived from?

• Moral truth: Theft is wrong because it harms human flourishing in measurable ways

• Nutritional truth: Eating sat. fat is wrong because it harms human bodies in measurable ways.

• Dennett: “If ‘ought’ cannot be derived from ‘is’, what can it be derived from?

• Moral truth: Theft is wrong because it harms human flourishing in measurable ways

• Nutritional truth: Eating sat. fat is wrong because it harms human bodies in measurable ways.

Chapter NotesChapter Notes

Possible Dialog TopicsPossible Dialog Topics

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Chapter 1: “Moral Truth”

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• A psychopath’s pleasures are NOT an “alternate morality”. Without empathy they cannot experience generalizable human flourishing.

• A psychopath’s pleasures are NOT an “alternate morality”. Without empathy they cannot experience generalizable human flourishing.

Chapter 1 NotesChapter 1 Notes

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Chapter 4: “Religion”

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• “Religion brings benefits to developing societies, but the happiest and most secure societies are the most secular

•Best predictor of social well-being is tolerance of differences (e.g., gays, lesbians, women, other religions, etc.). Tolerance does NOT flourish under orthodox religions.

•Religion is why we’re talking about gay marriage instead of a national energy policy.”

• “Religion brings benefits to developing societies, but the happiest and most secure societies are the most secular

•Best predictor of social well-being is tolerance of differences (e.g., gays, lesbians, women, other religions, etc.). Tolerance does NOT flourish under orthodox religions.

•Religion is why we’re talking about gay marriage instead of a national energy policy.”

Chapter 4 NotesChapter 4 Notes

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The Science of Morality

Education

Transcript of The Science of Morality