Sidetracked by trolleys: Why sacrificial moral dilemmas tell us little (or nothing) about utilitarian judgment

Social Neuroscience
Guy Kahane

Abstract

Research into moral decision-making has been dominated by sacrificial dilemmas where, in order to save several lives, it is necessary to sacrifice the life of another person. It is widely assumed that these dilemmas draw a sharp contrast between utilitarian and deontological approaches to morality, and thereby enable us to study the psychological and neural basis of utilitarian judgment. However, it has been previously shown that some sacrificial dilemmas fail to present a genuine contrast between utilitarian and deontological options. Here, I raise deeper problems for this research paradigm. Even when sacrificial dilemmas present a contrast between utilitarian and deontological options at a philosophical level, it is misleading to interpret the responses of ordinary folk in these terms. What is currently classified as "utilitarian judgment" does not in fact share essential features of a genuine utilitarian outlook, and is better explained in terms of commonsensical moral notions. When subjects deliberate about such dilemmas, they are not deciding between opposing utilitarian and deontological solutions, but engaging in a richer process of weighing opposing moral reasons. Sacrificial dilemmas therefore tell us little about util...Continue Reading

References

Jan 9, 1975·The New England Journal of Medicine·J Rachels
Sep 15, 2001·Science·J D GreeneJ D Cohen
Oct 12, 2004·Neuron·Joshua D GreeneJonathan D Cohen
Jan 26, 2007·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Michael Koenigs, Daniel Tranel
Dec 26, 2007·Cognition·Joshua D GreeneJonathan D Cohen
Mar 21, 2008·Nature·Guy Kahane, Nicholas Shackel
Feb 16, 2010·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Kristine M KnutsonJordan Grafman
May 27, 2010·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Shinsuke SuzukiEizo Akiyama
Mar 23, 2011·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Guy KahaneIrene Tracey
Mar 1, 2009·Cognitive Science·Tania Lombrozo
Jul 20, 2011·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Michael KoenigsJoseph P Newman
Feb 23, 2012·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·J F Christensen, A Gomila
Nov 1, 2010·Mind & Language·Guy Kahane, Nicholas Shackel
Sep 22, 2012·Nature·David G RandMartin A Nowak
Jan 22, 2013·Mind & Language·Guy Kahane
Jul 11, 2014·Social Neuroscience·Alejandro Rosas, Michael Koenigs

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 10, 2015·Current Biology : CB·Jean DecetyXinyue Zhou
Aug 26, 2015·Translational Psychiatry·K J YoderJ Decety
Aug 11, 2015·Frontiers in Neuroscience·Julian LimO'Dhaniel A Mullette-Gillman
Jun 19, 2016·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Gewnhi ParkJay J Van Bavel
Jan 10, 2018·Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience·Leonardo Christov-MooreMarco Iacoboni
Jul 26, 2018·PloS One·Mathieu GaronMiriam H Beauchamp
Nov 2, 2018·Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics : JERHRE·Fredrik Andreas Dahl, Gry Oftedal
Mar 20, 2020·Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics : JERHRE·Gry OftedalFredrik A Dahl
Oct 31, 2018·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience·Mathieu GaronMiriam H Beauchamp
Feb 16, 2019·Psychology, Crime & Law : PC & L·Keith J Yoder, Jean Decety
Feb 6, 2020·Perspectives on Psychological Science : a Journal of the Association for Psychological Science·Neil Hester, Kurt Gray
Oct 9, 2020·Psychological Reports·Indrajeet PatilEzequiel Gleichgerrcht
Nov 5, 2020·PloS One·Wesley Buckwalter, Andrew Peterson
Jan 10, 2021·Human Nature : an Interdisciplinary Biosocial Perspective·Kevin Smith, Peter K Hatemi
Mar 4, 2021·NPJ Parkinson's Disease·Giorgia PonsiSalvatore Maria Aglioti
Feb 26, 2021·The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : QJEP·Corentin J Gosling, Bastien Trémolière
Aug 31, 2021·Social Neuroscience·Dana Mueller, Kameko Halfmann
Sep 12, 2021·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Giuseppe UgazioChristian Ruff
Nov 16, 2021·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Nadia GuerouaouJean-Julien Aucouturier

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.