1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910788171003321

Titolo

The moral brain : a multidisciplinary perspective / / edited by Jean Decety and Thalia Wheatley

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cambridge, Massachusetts : , : The MIT Press, , [2015]

©2015

ISBN

0-262-32758-9

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (338 pages)

Collana

Social neuroscience

Disciplina

612.8/233

Soggetti

Neurosciences - Social aspects

Cognitive neuroscience

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Includes indexes

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Nota di contenuto

Evolution of morality -- Motivations of morality -- The development of morality -- The affective and social neuroscience of morality -- Psychopathic immorality -- Considerations and implications for justice and law.

Sommario/riassunto

"Over the past decade, an explosion of empirical research in a variety of fields has allowed us to understand human moral sensibility as a sophisticated integration of cognitive, emotional, and motivational mechanisms shaped through evolution, development, and culture. Evolutionary biologists have shown that moral cognition evolved to aid cooperation; developmental psychologists have demonstrated that the elements that underpin morality are in place much earlier than we thought; and social neuroscientists have begun to map brain circuits implicated in moral decision making. This volume offers an overview of current research on the moral brain, examining the topic from disciplinary perspectives that range from anthropology and neurophilosophy to justice and law. The contributors address the evolution of morality, considering precursors of human morality in other species as well as uniquely human adaptations. They examine motivations for morality, exploring the roles of passion, extreme sacrifice, and cooperation. They go on to consider the development of morality, from infancy to adolescence; findings on neurobiological



mechanisms of moral cognition; psychopathic immorality; and the implications for justice and law of a more biological understanding of morality. These new findings may challenge our intuitions about society and justice, but they may also lead to more a humane and flexible legal system"--Provided by publisher.