Welcome!The Topic For Today is The Moral Instinct by

Steven Pinker

The Moral InstinctMain Claim Biological Basis Spheres and

EmphasesTrolley Problems, etc.

Future of Morality

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400 400 400 400 400

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800 800 800 800 800

1000 1000 1000 1000 1000

Bonus Question: 5000 pts

Main Claim: 200• Question:• With the title of his article, Pinker claims this

is the basis of morality.• Answer• Instinct

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Main Claim: 400• Question:• When people are asked to judge the morality

of celebrities, they do not rely on this.• Answer• Reasoning.

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Main Claim: 600• Question:• When presented with moral dilemmas,

people cannot explain what? • Answer• Their moral choices

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Main Claim: 800• Question:• Name one factor that does influence how we

judge others’ morality. • Answer• Possible answers: wearing white clothing,

religious behavior, public appeals for charity.

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Main Claim: 1000

• Question:• Name of the man compared with Bill Gates

and Mother Theresa in Pinker’s opening. Answer

• Norman Borlaug

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Biological Basis: 200

• Question:• During the trolley problems involving direct

harm to others, FMRI of brains shows what is occurring?

• Answer• Conflict between different regions.

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Biological Basis: 400

• Question:• De Waal’s studies of chimpanzees given

cucumbers rather than grapes for the same task showed they have a sense of what? Answer

• Fairness.

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Biological Basis: 600

• Question:• De Waal’s studies of chimpanzees given a task

where they must cooperate to get food, even when one of them is not hungry, showed they have a sense of what

• Answer• Empathy.

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Biological Basis: 800

• Question:• Elephants asked to cooperate pulling ropes to

get food usually do, but one cheated by doing what?

• Answer• Standing on the rope.

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Biological Basis: 1000

• Question:• Studies of such animals as chimpanzees and

elephants, which show they have some moral traits, supports what aspect of human morals? Answer

• Evolution (from morality in animal ancestors).

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Spheres and Emphases: 200

• Question:• Pinker says that there are how many spheres

of morality• Answer• Five

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Spheres and Emphases: 400

• Question:• Haidt’s work on surveys with the trolley

problem and similar dilemmas shows conservatives and liberals agree on what? Answer

• Harm and Fairness spheres.

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Spheres and Emphases: 600

• Question:• Name two morality spheres that are de-

emphasized by liberals. • Answer• Possible answers: Purity, community,

authority/obedience

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Spheres and Emphases: 800

• Question:• Name one spheres of morality to which

Mother Theresa probably appeals in her appearance of morality?

• Answer• Possible answers: Purity, community

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Spheres and Emphases: 1000

• Question:• According to Pinker, how do people change

their emphasis on certain spheres? • Answer• Either or both: Moralization or demoralization

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Trolley Problems: 200

• Question:• Pinker explains that when people are faced

with throwing a lever to cause one rather than five deaths, they usually choose what?

• Answer• Lever (or One)

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Trolley Problems: 400

• Question:• When people could save five from a runaway

trolley by throwing someone on the track, what do they decide, throwing or inaction?

• Answer• Inaction

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Trolley Problems: 600

• Question:• Different choices when faced with the same

numerical odds of saving life shows that people don’t use what in choosing moral actions?

• Answer• Logic (reasoning).

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Trolley Problems: 800

• Question:• • The underlying principle in throwing someone

on the tracks in the Trolley Problem seems to be what a violation of what sphere of morality, according to Pinker? Answer

• Harm or hurt.

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Trolley Problems: 1000

• Question:• The Trolley Problem has been criticized as

neglecting several factors that could influence how a person would choose. From class discussion of other sources, name one such factor.

• Answer• Possible answers: Relative’s life, affiliation with

same group as some of the people, knowing versus not knowing them.

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Future Morality: 200

• Question:• What does Pinker say people might think

about morality if it’s an instinct? • Answer• Shaky or threatened.

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Future Morality: 400

• Question:• What basis of morality does Pinker see as

having lost force today? • Answer• Religion

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Future Morality: 600

• Question:• If animals are moral, what possible basis of

morality is most incompatible with that? Answer

• Religions that claim humans are special creations in the image of god.

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Future Morality: 800

• Question:• In experiments, animals are generous even

when they won’t get a reward. What does Pinker think they might gain?

• Answer• Future good will.

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Future Morality: 1000

• Question:• Why does Pinker think that morality will not

erode if people accept a biological basis rather than a religious one?

• Answer• Knowing the basis will increase self-

knowledge.

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Bonus Question: 5000 pts.

• Question:• Give the name of the endowed chair that

Steven Pinker holds at Harvard University.• Answer• Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology.

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Daily Double

The Winner Of The Last RoundWrite Down How Much Money

You Are Willing To RiskIf You get the Question right you win that money

If you get it wrong you Lose the money!

Daily Double

The Winner Of The Last RoundWrite Down How Much Money

You Are Willing To RiskIf You get the Question right you win that money

If you get it wrong you Lose the money!