Moral Psychology

Considers different views of moral personhood, asking what morally good motives are, what is required for moral knowledge, and what kinds of character traits good people develop, making explicit ordinary assumptions about morality and moral behavior. It then considers the extent to which these views are compatible with what we know about ourselves on the basis of contemporary empirical psychology, taking note of both the advantages and limitations of psychological research on moral topics. Common topics include the possibility of altruism, the role of emotion in moral judgment, the nature and value of empathy, the existence of character traits, and the nature of responsible agency.