Reclaiming Moral Knowledge: A Comprehensive Framework
Summary
In today's discussion, we explored the work of Jonathan Haidt and his insights into the disappearance of moral knowledge in contemporary Western culture. Haidt, a moral psychologist, has undergone a personal transformation through his research, moving from a progressive liberal stance to recognizing the limitations of his previous moral perspective. He contrasts the "thick" moral cultures of non-Western and historical Western societies with the "thin" moral culture prevalent in modern progressive liberalism, which tends to focus primarily on the dimensions of care and liberty, often neglecting other crucial moral dimensions such as fairness, loyalty, authority, and sanctity.
Haidt argues that while the emphasis on care and liberty has historically addressed significant societal wrongs, it has now become a liability. He suggests a return to a more comprehensive moral framework that acknowledges all dimensions of human morality. This perspective aligns with the thoughts of Dallas Willard, who also critiques the modern ethical focus on actions and rules over character and virtue formation.
Furthermore, Haidt's work challenges the emotivist interpretation of intuition and emotions, advocating instead for a cognitive understanding. This distinction is crucial because it affects how we perceive the foundations of moral knowledge. Haidt's alignment with David Hume, despite Hume's association with logical positivism and emotivism, seems contradictory. Haidt's failure to clearly communicate the cognitive nature of emotions and intuitions in his popular writings may undermine his efforts to reclaim a robust moral framework.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Need for a Comprehensive Moral Framework: Contemporary Western culture's focus on care and liberty has overshadowed other moral dimensions like fairness, loyalty, authority, and sanctity. A balanced moral framework that incorporates all these dimensions is essential for a more holistic understanding of morality. [02:00]
2. Character and Virtue Over Rules: Modern ethical theories often prioritize rules and actions over character and virtue. Emphasizing character formation and virtue cultivation can lead to a more profound moral life, as it focuses on the development of moral agents rather than mere rule-following. [02:46]
3. Cognitive Understanding of Intuition and Emotion: Haidt's cognitive intuitionism suggests that intuitions and emotions are cognitive, not merely emotive. This understanding can reshape how we perceive moral knowledge, emphasizing the role of reason and cognition in moral judgments. [04:06]
4. The Influence of Historical Ideas: Haidt's alignment with David Hume highlights the importance of understanding the historical context of ideas. Misinterpretations of philosophical foundations can lead to contradictions in contemporary moral discourse. [05:22]
5. Communicating Moral Foundations Clearly: Haidt's work underscores the importance of clearly communicating the cognitive basis of moral intuitions and emotions. Without this clarity, efforts to reclaim moral knowledge may be undermined by misunderstandings of foundational concepts. [05:59]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - Introduction to Jonathan Haidt
[00:24] - Commonalities with Dallas Willard
[00:41] - Haidt's Moral Psychology
[00:54] - Haidt's Personal Transformation
[01:12] - Thick vs. Thin Moral Cultures
[01:30] - Six Dimensions of Morality
[01:44] - Focus on Care and Liberty
[02:14] - Liability of Narrow Moral Focus
[02:33] - Return to Comprehensive Morality
[02:46] - Critique of Modern Ethical Theories
[03:16] - Epistemic Foundations of Moral Knowledge
[03:33] - Cognitive Intuitionism
[04:21] - Misinterpretations in Popular Writings
[05:06] - Historical Context of Ideas
[05:59] - Conclusion and Reflections
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
- Proverbs 4:23 - "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
- Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Observation Questions:
1. What are the six dimensions of morality that Jonathan Haidt identifies, and which ones does he believe are often neglected in contemporary Western culture? [01:30]
2. How does Haidt's view of moral psychology differ from the modern focus on rules and actions? [02:46]
3. What is the significance of Haidt's alignment with David Hume, and how does it relate to the historical context of ideas? [05:22]
4. How does Haidt's understanding of intuition and emotion challenge the emotivist interpretation? [04:06]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How might Romans 12:2 relate to Haidt's call for a more comprehensive moral framework that includes all dimensions of morality?
2. In what ways does Proverbs 4:23 emphasize the importance of character and virtue over mere rule-following, as discussed in the sermon? [02:46]
3. How can Philippians 4:8 guide us in developing a cognitive understanding of intuition and emotion, as suggested by Haidt's work? [04:06]
4. What are the potential consequences of neglecting certain moral dimensions, such as fairness and loyalty, in contemporary culture? [02:00]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own moral framework. Are there dimensions like fairness, loyalty, or authority that you might be neglecting? How can you incorporate them more fully into your life? [02:00]
2. Consider a situation where you prioritized rules over character. How might focusing on virtue and character formation change your approach in the future? [02:46]
3. How can you apply the cognitive understanding of intuition and emotion in your daily decision-making processes? [04:06]
4. Think of a time when you conformed to societal norms rather than seeking a more comprehensive moral understanding. How can Romans 12:2 inspire you to transform your thinking?
5. Identify an area in your life where you need to guard your heart more diligently, as advised in Proverbs 4:23. What practical steps can you take to protect your moral integrity?
6. How can you actively seek out and focus on things that are true, noble, and admirable, as encouraged in Philippians 4:8, in your everyday interactions?
7. Reflect on a historical idea or belief that has influenced your moral perspective. How can understanding its context help you develop a more robust moral framework? [05:22]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing a Holistic Moral Framework
In contemporary Western culture, there is a tendency to focus predominantly on the moral dimensions of care and liberty, often at the expense of other important aspects such as fairness, loyalty, authority, and sanctity. This narrow focus can lead to an imbalanced understanding of morality, which may not fully address the complexities of human life. Jonathan Haidt suggests that a more comprehensive moral framework is necessary, one that incorporates all these dimensions to provide a more holistic understanding of morality. By acknowledging the importance of each moral dimension, individuals can cultivate a more balanced and nuanced approach to ethical living. [02:00]
"Thus says the Lord: 'Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed.'" (Isaiah 56:1, ESV)
Reflection: Consider which moral dimensions you tend to prioritize in your life. How can you begin to incorporate a more balanced approach that includes fairness, loyalty, authority, and sanctity?
Day 2: Cultivating Character and Virtue
Modern ethical theories often emphasize rules and actions over the development of character and virtue. This focus can lead to a superficial understanding of morality, where individuals are more concerned with following rules than cultivating a virtuous character. Emphasizing character formation and virtue cultivation can lead to a deeper moral life, as it encourages individuals to become moral agents who act out of a well-formed character rather than mere rule-following. By prioritizing character and virtue, individuals can develop a more profound and authentic moral life. [02:46]
"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out." (Proverbs 10:9, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a recent decision you made. Was it guided by rules or by your character? How can you focus more on developing virtues in your daily life?
Day 3: Understanding Intuition and Emotion Cognitively
Jonathan Haidt's cognitive intuitionism challenges the emotivist interpretation of intuition and emotions, advocating for a cognitive understanding instead. This perspective suggests that intuitions and emotions are not merely emotive but are deeply connected to cognition and reason. By recognizing the cognitive nature of emotions and intuitions, individuals can reshape their understanding of moral knowledge, emphasizing the role of reason and cognition in moral judgments. This approach encourages a more thoughtful and reflective engagement with moral issues, moving beyond mere emotional reactions. [04:06]
"The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out." (Proverbs 18:15, ESV)
Reflection: Think about a recent emotional reaction you had. How can you engage your cognitive faculties to better understand and respond to such emotions in the future?
Day 4: Learning from Historical Ideas
Jonathan Haidt's alignment with David Hume highlights the importance of understanding the historical context of ideas. Misinterpretations of philosophical foundations can lead to contradictions in contemporary moral discourse. By exploring the historical roots of moral ideas, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of their own moral beliefs and the influences that shape them. This awareness can help prevent misunderstandings and promote a more coherent and informed moral perspective. [05:22]
"Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you." (Deuteronomy 32:7, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a moral belief you hold. What historical or philosophical influences might have shaped this belief? How can understanding these influences deepen your moral perspective?
Day 5: Communicating Moral Foundations Clearly
Clear communication of the cognitive basis of moral intuitions and emotions is crucial for reclaiming robust moral knowledge. Without this clarity, efforts to understand and articulate moral foundations may be undermined by misunderstandings of foundational concepts. By effectively communicating the cognitive nature of moral intuitions, individuals can foster a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of morality. This clarity can help bridge gaps in moral discourse and promote a more informed and thoughtful engagement with ethical issues. [05:59]
"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:6, ESV)
Reflection: Think about a recent conversation about morality. How can you improve your communication to better convey the cognitive aspects of moral intuitions and emotions?
Quotes
"I'm talking about Jonathan height and disappearance of moral knowledge and I'm focusing on height because I think he's maybe a really good example or you know for us to follow in our own thoughts about how we might go about reclaiming moral knowledge or encouraging the reclamation of moral knowledge I think he actually has a lot of views in common with Willard although certainly there are some some disagreements too but I want to focus on on the commonalities one of them I think is that you know he agrees with Willard that contemporary Western culture has taken a wrong turn in his own research he has and one of the one of the areas where he works is in moral psychology and particularly cross-cultural moral psychology and and he has written in several different places about his own sort of journey here" [00:00:00]
"I started out a progressive liberal and and through his own research findings became convinced that that his own moral perspective was deficient and far too narrow so he comes to compare the thick moral culture of non-western cultures and historical Western culture with the thin moral culture of liberty and care that is characteristic of contemporary progressive liberalism on the first page of my paper I give you the list of six key dimensions of morality that highte has discovered operate cross culturally and you've got the care harm dimension and then the Liberty oppression dimension but then also the fairness cheating dimension the loyalty betrayal dimension the authority subversion dimension and the sanctity degradation dimension" [00:54:54]
"and he wants to say that contemporary Western culture tends to ignore three four five and six there and to focus almost exclusively on the first two dimensions and make a special cause of care and liberty over against harm and oppression and while he thinks that that that special focus has served a really important function historically and in writing certain wrongs or antennas toward various neglected goods of human life he thinks that now that's become a liability and we need to recognize the value in all of the the other dimensions of human morality as he's come to understand it cross culturally and sort of move back in the direction of a sick moral culture so that's one point he has in common with Willard" [01:12:59]
"another point he has in common with others he thinks ethical Theory has taken the wrong turn he possesses ancient moral theories which were focused on character virtue Maxim's and role models and then also cultivation of virtue or character formation with modern approaches that are focused more on action and rules and principles of action logical proofs for those principles and then puzzles or quandary like trolley problems and lifeboat problems and things like that and he wants to say that this really isn't all that helpful this is the way to go about thinking about the moral life and you know Willard would agree with that" [02:41:51]
"the epistemic foundations for moral knowledge I was actually really surprised to find this out because when I initially picked Hyde I had read well at that point I think he just had two popular books out and I'd read them both and I I was really disturbed by the way that he characterized intuition as as an emotive thing primarily and I thought okay so I like a lot of what he's doing but he's just going off the rails with this but then as I dug into his academic writings I found he's actually a cognitive intuitionist not an emotional or emotivist intuitionist he actually thinks that the intuitions in general and emotions as a particular sub class of intuitions are cognitive things not non cognitive things" [03:19:70]
"and so I thought wow okay well thank goodness but then why does that not come through clearly in his popular writings if he's really concerned about this sort of stuff over here right then he ought to be a lot clearer about what he is pointing us to in terms of the foundations of our moral knowledge and the fact that these are he's understanding these in cognitive terms because most folks don't understand these in cognitive terms anymore both of these notions the notion of an intuition and the notion of the emotion have have come to be understood in emotivist terms which are non cognitive is terms as shaped by the turn to emotivism" [04:11:33]
"which is an important part and as Greg said the most depressing part of the saga of the disappearance of moral knowledge at least as it unfolded within academic philosophy and and and then you know Heights tendency to sort of identify with David Hume and hold him up as sort of his hero and role model where in fact David Hume is The Fountainhead of logical positivism and the the emotive is basically Cumaean ism plus you know the logic of Principia ethica that's a true logical positivism and the turn to emotivism and my only way of making sense of this is to think well hi just doesn't understand the history of ideas and how they you know how things have actually led to our current situation the one that he's trying to address" [04:48:75]
"and so he's actually without knowing it I mean I think he's actually pulling the rug out from under himself while he's saying you know we need to move back in the direction of this more robust view of reality it's grounded in into it intuition but then you know what it's emotional and without really making clear to his audience that emotions are being understood in a cognitive sense so I think he's working at cross-purposes with himself and I'll just leave it at that" [05:39:30]
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