Moral Theory Research Articles

Shining the "Light" on Moral Foundations: Light Versus Dark Personality Relates More Strongly to Moral Foundations.

Endorsement of the moral foundations specified by Moral Foundations Theory (MFT) can sometimes fail to relate negatively to certain dispositions indicative of bad moral character. This evidence has fueled some concerns over whether the moral foundations in MFT are "moral." To increase understanding of how moral foundations relate to moral character, we proposed the "asymmetry hypothesis." This hypothesis states that "good" character is a more powerful predictor of each moral foundation than "bad" character. Put differently, there is an asymmetry in the strength (not merely direction) with which the moral foundations relate to encompassing indicators of good versus bad character. This is important because it suggests that links between the moral foundations and moral character will be somewhat concealed by focusing on bad character and/or not considering encompassing indicators of good character. A sample of college participants (N = 514) rated their endorsement of moral foundations and completed two sets of measures that represented encompassing indicators of both good and bad character. The data supported the asymmetry hypothesis: Each encompassing good-character assessment was a stronger predictor of each moral foundation than its corresponding encompassing bad-character assessment. Furthermore, variance unique to any good-character assessment had about moderate relations with each moral foundation, but variance unique to any bad-character assessment had no more than small relations with each moral foundation. The study provides a more nuanced understanding of how moral character relates to moral foundations and highlights utility in considering moral character as multidimensional.

A Phenomenological Analysis and Evaluation of the Meanings Attached to Examination Malpractices by the Teachers and Students in Kisii County, Kenya.

In Kenya the problem of examination malpractice keeps on recurring amidst stringent measures. This study gives the perspective where understanding the meaning attached to examination malpractice by the teachers and students helps in minimizing the annual cyclic examination malpractices. Its main objective is to present a phenomenological analysis and evaluation of the meanings attached to examination malpractices by the teachers and students in Secondary schools in Kisii County. The study was carried out in Kisii County, Kenya. It focused on students and teachers in secondary schools in the County who have experienced the problem of examination malpractice. Given that examination malpractice is an ethical problem and those who engage in it justify their actions using certain ethical theories, the study was guided by normative ethical theories. It utilized descriptive survey research design through open-ended questionnaires for data collection. Purposive and snowball sampling procedures were used to pick the respondents whose number was indeterminate given that the study is qualitative and only interested in getting the qualitative data as opposed to quantitative data. This fitted well with the snowball referrals from one relevant participant/interviewee to another. The study adopted hermeneutic and transcendental phenomenological approaches for both prescription and analysis of data. The findings showed that: there are examination malpractice meanings that are popular/conventional such as a deliberate act of a wrong doing and implied/unconventional such as an effect of pressure to get good examination grades; the meanings attached to the examination malpractice by the teachers and students in Kisii County influence the perpetuation of the menace. The study makes the following conclusion: Implied/unconventional meanings influence examination malpractice more than the popular/conventional meanings if the cyclic perpetuation of examination malpractice is to be justified. The study recommends that curbing measures should be directed equally on both the implied/unconventional and the popular/conventional meanings given that paying attention to only the latter has not given the expected educational outcomes.

A Phenomenological Analysis of Experiences of Parents, Teachers and Students about Examination Malpractices in Kisii County, Kenya

While the problem of examination malpractices in Kenya has been a perennial one, the efforts put in place to address it have not fully borne fruits. This study focused on understanding this scenario from the phenomenological perspective that sought to examine the experiences of teachers, parents and students in Kisii County about examination malpractice and the relationship therein. The following was its objective: explore the complexity of examination malpractice, its related ills and the responsibility of the education stakeholders as experienced by the teachers, parents and students in Kisii County. The study focused on parents, students and teachers in secondary schools in the county who have experienced the problem of examination malpractice. It was guided by normative ethical theories to understand its persistence. It utilized descriptive survey research design through focused group discussions and open-ended questionnaires. Purposive and snowball sampling procedures were used to pick the respondents complemented by document analysis. The study adopted hermeneutic and transcendental phenomenological approaches for both prescription and analysis of data. The findings showed that: forms of examination malpractice are either conventional or non-convectional and are grounded in either the positive or negative experiences of teachers, parents and students; The study makes the following conclusions: focusing on both conventional and non-conventional forms of examination malpractice gives a wider understanding of what ails the examination process in Kisii County; understanding the negative and positive experiences of teachers, parents and students in regard to examination malpractice as well as understanding its complexity is key in formulating a comprehensive solution to the menace; and the network to hold those who engage in examination malpractice responsible to be widened. The study recommends more focus on both the conventional and non-conventional forms of examination malpractices to capture in detail what ails the examination process in Kisii County; utilization of both the negative and positive experiences of the students, teachers and parents to come up with more all-encompassing solutions to the issue of examination malpractice that is grounded in their experiential attitudes;-, and more analysis of the complexity of examination malpractice to generate more lasting solutions to the menace.

A causal modeler's guide to double effect reasoning

AbstractTrolley problems and like cases are often thought to show the inadequacy of purely consequentialist moral theories. In particular, they are often taken to reveal that consequentialists unduly neglect the moral significance of the causal structure of decision problems. To precisify such critiques and one sort of deontological morality they motivate, I develop a formal modeling framework within which trolley problems can be represented as suitably supplemented structural causal models and various consequentialist and double effect‐inspired moral theories can be viewed as disagreeing over the inputs of a common decision rule.

“I've lost my children to vaping”: A frame analysis of the Australian media's construction of the “Youth vaping crisis”

BackgroundYouth vaping has become an issue of extreme concern in the Australian public and political discourse, recently culminating in the announcement of further restrictions on the sale and use of nicotine vaping products (NVPs) by the Federal Government. We examine how youth vaping has been framed in the Australian news media in the six months leading up to the announcement of these new measures in May 2023. MethodsDrawing a sample from the Factiva database, we conducted a frame analysis on articles published during this six month period, identifying media framings that included the necessary components of a distinct Problem Definition, Causal Attribution, Moral Evaluation, and Treatment Recommendation. ResultsWe identified 123 relevant articles, and four dominant framings being applied. Most common was that of A Failure of Control, followed by A Poisonous Epidemic, A Health Behaviour Needing Regulation, and A Moral Failure. ConclusionThese findings are discussed in the context of moral panic theory and how framings are constructed by the media in collaboration with policy actors to support particular policy measures.

Defining the Rules of Engagement: Legal and Ethical Standards in Cyber Conflict

In an increasingly digitized world, cyber conflicts are emerging as a critical domain of modern warfare and international relations. This paper examines the legal and ethical standards that govern cyber conflict, aiming to define clear rules of engagement. Through a detailed analysis of current international laws, national legislation, and ethical theories relevant to cyber operations, this research identifies gaps and challenges in the existing frameworks. Case studies of notable cyber incidents illustrate the practical implications of these legal and ethical standards. The study proposes a set of refined rules of engagement designed to address these deficiencies, ensuring ma ore coherent and consistent application of legal and ethical principles in cyber conflict. The findings suggest that while international consensus and cooperation are crucial, there is also a need for dynamic and adaptable rules that can keep pace with rapid technological advancements. This paper contributes to the growing discourse on cyber conflict by providing a comprehensive understanding of the legal and ethical dimensions and offering actionable recommendations for policymakers, legal experts, and cybersecurity practitioners.

Environmental Ethics and the Philosophy of Sustainability

Purpose: The general objective of this study was to explore environmental ethics and the philosophy of sustainability. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to environmental ethics and the philosophy of sustainability. Preliminary empirical review revealed that integrating ethical principles into sustainability practices was essential for achieving long-term ecological balance and social justice. It found that environmental ethics provided a necessary moral framework, encouraging proactive environmental protection and fostering sustainable behaviors through education. However, the study also identified gaps in current practices, noting that many policies still prioritized short-term economic gains over ecological health. The research emphasized the importance of bridging these gaps by developing comprehensive frameworks that blend ethical principles with practical sustainability strategies, ultimately underscoring the critical role of environmental ethics in realizing the philosophy of sustainability. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Deep Ecology Theory, The Land Ethic and Social Ecology Theory may be used to anchor future studies on the philosophy of sustainability. The study highlighted the need for an integrated theoretical model combining ethical principles with sustainability practices, and suggested incorporating diverse philosophical perspectives. It emphasized embedding environmental ethics into organizational cultures and education curricula to foster sustainable practices and behaviors. The study also advocated for integrating ethical dimensions into policy frameworks and adopting the precautionary principle in environmental policymaking to safeguard against unforeseen impacts. These recommendations aimed to advance theoretical discourse, guide practical sustainability efforts, and inform robust, equitable environmental policies.

The Role of Philosophy in Addressing Climate Change

Purpose: The general objective of this study was to investigate the role of philosophy in addressing climate change. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to philosophy in addressing climate change. The study underscored the indispensable role of philosophy in combating climate change by examining its ethical, epistemological, and socio-political dimensions. It highlighted the importance of ethical theories like utilitarianism and intergenerational justice in ensuring climate policies are just and equitable. The study emphasized epistemic justice, advocating for the inclusion of marginalized perspectives to create more inclusive climate policies. It also revealed the interconnectedness of environmental and social justice, calling for holistic climate strategies that address social inequalities. Overall, the study demonstrated that integrating philosophical insights into climate action fosters a more ethical, effective, and sustainable response to the climate crisis. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Utilitarianism, Intergenerational Justice and Epistemic Justice Theory may be used to anchor future studies on the role of philosophy in addressing climate change. The study recommended incorporating a broader range of philosophical theories into climate change research, integrating ethical considerations systematically into climate action plans, and adopting ethically informed policies that prioritize justice, equity, and sustainability. It emphasized the need for ethical leadership, promoting epistemic justice by including marginalized communities in climate discourse, and fostering global cooperation through international ethical standards and strengthened partnerships. These recommendations aimed to create more comprehensive, inclusive, and effective responses to climate change.

Metaethics and the Nature of Properties

Abstract This paper explores connections between theories of morality and theories of properties. It argues that (1) moral realism is in tension with predicate, class and mereological nominalism; (2) moral non-naturalism is incompatible with standard versions of resemblance nominalism, immanent realism and trope theory; and (3) the standard semantic arguments for property realism do not support moral realism. I also raise doubts about trope-theoretic explanations of moral supervenience and argue against one version of the principle that we should accept theories that maintain neutrality.

Ethics of tourism: a Horizon 2050 paper

Purpose This paper is part of Horizon 2050 series of papers. This paper aims to highlight the importance of stronger engagement with ethical philosophy in tourism. A number of potential research streams are identified. Design/methodology/approach The paper first introduces several theories of ethics. It then reviews the history of tourism’s engagement with ethics, especially within academia. Subsequently, several themes for the future of research on tourism ethics are discussed according to four scales: the tourist, tourism business, tourism destination and the tourism system. Findings At the individual tourist level, future research should focus on better understanding tourist (un)ethical behaviour by considering the hedonic and cross-cultural nature of tourism. At business level, motivations to be ethical, ethical corporate models should be studied. Endurance of tourist products that are deemed unethical needs further analysis. At destination level, further understanding of stakeholder relations, stakeholder values and dissemination of those values is required. Fair and just options to sustainably manage visitation merit further discussion. At tourism system level, a stronger engagement with political philosophies and more creative alternatives for the current global tourism system require exploration. Originality/value While several reviews of ethics of tourism research exist, this paper is oriented towards opportunities for future research. The paper does not intend to cover all current ethical debates; however, it provides a number of topics within the tourism ethics field that merit further exploration in hope to inspire new research.

Short Story Buah Limus Murag Ku Angin by Karna Yudibrata: A Study of Immanuel Kant's Philosophy of Norms

This study aims to describe the moral philosophy contained in the Sundanese short story Buah Limus Murag ku Angin by Karna Yudibrata using Immanuel Kant's moral philosophy theory. This research uses a qualitative approach with the document method and literature study. The document method is used to find data sources that will be used, while supporting literature and readings are collected using literature study techniques. The data source in this research is the short story Buah Limus Murag ku Angin by Karna Yudibrata and the data is in the form of morality values contained in it. Then the data is analyzed and described using Immanuel Kant's moral philosophy theory, with the result that in this short story moral philosophy is observed which includes 1) morality towards god not to associate gods, in 2) morality towards the social environment includes morals of responsibility, respect for others, and good neighborliness, and in 3) morality towards oneself the results are related to morals to think positively, not indulge in excessive ego, control emotions, maintain self-esteem and authority, and wisdom in action.

Self-Threatening Extortionists Constitute a Problem for Utilitarians, Not Contractualists

AbstractJohann Frick has claimed that morality requires that we (in many cases) should give in to the demands of rational agents who attempt to extort us by threatening to harm themselves (self-threatening extortionists). He has further argued that since contractualism implies that there is no such moral requirement, such cases represent a problem for this brand of moral theory. In this paper, we argue that things are quite the other way around: Morality does not require that we give in to the demands of self-threatening extortionists. Such cases, therefore, represent a problem for (act) utilitarianism, rather than contractualism. Our argument appeals to a particular understanding of the idea that rational agents have a special responsibility to take care of their own interests or welfare.

Moral trade-offs reveal foundational representations that predict unique variance in political attitudes.

Moral Foundations Theory (MFT) explains variation in moral judgements on the basis of multiple innate, intuitive foundations and has been subject to criticism over recent years. Prior research has tended to rely on explicit self-report in the Moral Foundations Questionnaire (MFQ). In contrast, we seek to capture intuitive choices between foundations in a novel task - the Moral Foundations Conflict Task (MFCT). Across four studies, responses on this task reflect foundations measured by the MFQ (study 1), are not altered under cognitive load or reduced cognitive control (studies 2a and 2b); and explain unique variance in political orientation and related constructs (study 3). Furthermore, using responses and response times generated on the MFCT, we present a computationally explicit model of foundation-related intuitive judgements and show that these patterns are consistent with the theoretical claims of MFT. These findings show that the MFCT outperforms the MFQ and can contribute to the understanding of moral value conflicts, furthering debate on the nature of moral values.

The Changing Moral Environment—A Three-Wave Study Testing Four Moral Theories and the Fear of COVID-19 in Predicting Compliance with Behavioral Guidelines on COVID-19, Moralization Toward Non-Compliance, and Vaccination

Governments across the globe imposed behavioral restrictions to halt the spread of the COVID-19. These preventive behaviors became a moralized issue and engagement in those behaviors varied. In moral psychology, there are various theoretical frameworks with measures of individual differences that concern the way we form moral judgments. In a pre-registered longitudinal three-wave project started before the pandemic, we examined the predictive power of several moral measures on compliance with behavioral guidelines, moralization toward noncompliance, and intention to vaccinate and actual vaccine uptake. Mature integrative and deliberative moral thinking predicted moralization and compliance better than several measures of utilitarianism. These results hold when controlling for Fear of Covid-19 and sociodemographic factors.

A Political Radicalization Framework Based on Moral Foundations Theory

Moral foundations theory proposes that individuals with conflicting political views base their behavior on different principles chosen from a small group of universal moral foundations. This study proposes using a set of widely accepted moral foundations (fairness, in-group loyalty, authority, and purity) as proxies to determine the degree of radicalization of online communities. A fifth principle, care, is generally surpassed by others that are higher in the radicalized groups’ moral hierarchy. Moreover, the presented data-driven methodological framework proposes an alternative way to measure whether a community complies with a certain moral principle or foundation: not evaluating its speech, but its behavior through the interactions of its individuals, establishing a bridge between the structural features of the interaction network and the intensity of communities’ radicalization regarding the considered moral foundations. Two foundations were assessed using the network’s structural characteristics: in-group loyalty measured by group-level modularity, and authority evaluated using group domination, for detecting potential hierarchical substructures within the network. By analyzing a set of Pareto-optimal groups regarding a multidimensional moral relevance scale, the most radicalized communities were identified among those considered extreme in some of their attitudes or views. An application of the proposed framework is illustrated using real-world datasets. The radicalized communities’ behavior exhibited increasing isolation, and their authorities and leaders showed growing domination over their audience. Differences were also detected between users’ behavior and speech, showing that individuals tended to share more “extreme” in-group content than they publish: extreme views get more likes on social media.

Against Melancholy Madness: The Duty of Artists

Abstract In this paper I explain what the duty of artists could be according to the philosopher R.G. Collingwood. My aim is not only to focus on Collingwood’s writings on the philosophy of art, but to show the parallel between the concepts used in his aesthetics and his ethics. In fact, the major role of “emotion” in both his art and moral theory gives me the occasion to develop an understanding of artists’ tasks within their communities. Moreover, it provides an occasion to define what, for Collingwood, the subject of ethics is and to explore an almost uncharted part of his work: his “Lectures on Moral Philosophy” delivered from 1921 to 1940.

TIMELESS GEM: HOW MAHABHARATA CAN BE THE GAME CHANGER IN INSPIRING RESPECT FOR ELDERS

Mahabharata is the longest epic poem and a product of ancient Hindu civilisation, written post Ramayana between 3rd century BCE and the 3rd century CE. Scholars unanimously agree the Mahabharata is a Hindu moral treatise. However, the fundamental moral values relating to the family as depicted in the epic is very much understudied, notably the element of respect given to the elders. The mainstream interpretations of the Mahabharata text focus primarily on its spiritual element, limiting its application and relevance to wider moral living. In reality, the epic promotes family values, notably the enduring respect for older family members by the younger ones even when they treat the latter unjustly. This paper contributes to literature on morality, namely the value of respect as discussed and portrayed in Mahabharata. Respect is a universal value; however, this moral value as discussed in Mahabharata is unique and worthy to be promoted as a moral ideal because it has significant scientific and cultural implications. Therefore, the current study further seeks to identify moral values associated with family life, namely respect for the elderly. Relevant data is extracted and later analysed using Hermeneutic Approach, while Murray Bowen's Family Systems Theory is utilised to understand intra-familial relationship. Kohlberg's Moral Development Theory meanwhile is used to delineate the moral phases of important characters. Certain methods and expressions are used in the epic that reflect familial respect, namely: i) Salutatory Respect; ii) Acquiescent Respect; iii) Consultation Respect; iv) Linguistic Respect; v) Gift Respect and Reverence. Mahabharata is potentially a valuable moral resource for the younger generation and including its moral values in the educational syllabus will pave way to create generations that respect and honour its elderly and older members of society.

The moral dark side of entrepreneurial leadership: How it leads to employee creative unethicality

AbstractDrawing on the social cognitive theory of morality, we propose a moderated mediation model to explain why and how employees under the supervision of entrepreneurial leadership engage in unethical behaviors to achieve creative performance. Specifically, we anticipated that entrepreneurial leadership would cause employees to engage in moral justification, which in turn would lead to creative unethicality. Furthermore, we argue that politics perception serves as a critical boundary condition, strengthening the indirect effect of entrepreneurial leadership on creative unethicality. We conducted two multiwave and multisource surveys and constructed a structural equation model to test the proposed hypotheses. Study 1, which involved 201 coworker–employee dyads in a single company, provided full support for all hypotheses. Study 2, conducted in 12 companies with 400 employees and 69 supervisors, replicated the findings of Study 1 and further confirmed the moderated mediation model. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Emergence as a Moral Theory: Reappraising Robert Nozick's Foundational Liberalism

Emergence as a Moral Theory: Reappraising Robert Nozick's Foundational Liberalism

Unearthing the Foundations: Testing the Universality of Moral Foundations Theory in Three Non-Industrialised Populations [Conference Presentation Abstract

Unearthing the Foundations: Testing the Universality of Moral Foundations Theory in Three Non-Industrialised Populations [Conference Presentation Abstract