Moral Psychology by Mark Alfano

Moral Psychology by Mark Alfano

Moral psychology is the systematic inquiry into how morality works, when it does work, and breaks down when it doesn't work. In this comprehensive new textbook, Mark Alfano outlines the five central concepts in the study of moral psychology: agency, patiency, sociality, temporality, and reflexivity. Subsequent chapters each assess a key area of research, which Alfano relates both to the five central concepts and to empirical findings. He then draws out the philosophical implications of those findings before suggesting future directions for research. One of Alfano's guiding themes is that moral philosophy without psychological content is empty, whereas psychological investigation without philosophical insight is blind. He advocates and demonstrates a holistic vision that pictures moral psychology as a project of collaborative inquiry into the descriptive and normative aspects of the human condition. Featuring a glossary of technical terms, further reading sections and chapter-by-chapter study questions, this rich, systematic, and accessible introduction to moral psychology will be suitable for both undergraduates and researchers in philosophy, psychology and related fields.

"Moral Psychology is a first-rate contribution to philosophy and a pedagogical tour de force, a fantastic gift to scholars working in ethics and moral psychology and to our studentsAlfano is wickedly smart, in complete control of all the philosophical and empirical literature in moral psychology, and writes in crystal-clear, inviting prose. The study questions are amazing challenges to think hard, often personally, about implicit bias, one's own and one's loved ones' trustworthiness, emotions, character, relativism, and the significance of morality to a good life. Simply outstanding."
—Owen Flanagan, Duke University

"Accessibly written, though far from being a mere survey, this book is at once a concise and in the best sense idiosyncratic introduction to some recent findings in empirical moral psychology and an argued account of the relationship between those findings and moral philosophy."
—Edward Harcourt, University of Oxford

"There is much to like about this book, and I highly recommend it. It is particularly suitable as a textbook for courses on moral psychology (entry level or advanced), but even researchers working in the field will find many interesting thoughts and stimulating insights."
—Ethical Theory and Moral Practice

"Mark Alfano's Moral Psychology is an exciting and challenging introduction to the interface between philosophical ethics and the empirical sciences."
—Scott Forrest Aikin, Philosophy

Mark Alfano is Associate Professor in Ethics and Philosophy of Technology at Delft University of Technology.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780745672250
ISBN 10	0745672256
Title	Moral Psychology
Author	Mark Alfano
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Polity
Year published	2016-03-07
Number of pages	216
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.