Notes Toward a Neuroethics

Abstract

The Ethical Brain challenges a variety of sociological assumptions that basic notions of morality vary culturally, that we cannot criticize the idea of other cultures impacting negatively on human nature, or that there is no human nature at all. Findings from five authors are used to bring sociology in line with more current neurosociological findings on the matter. Differences in Gazzaniga and de Waal in terms of brain processes involved in moral decisions are presented, as well as agreements about the available evidence for innate morality. An attempt to balance the positive features of our innate morality with the negative characteristics of humans is discussed. Finally, processes that encourage humans to identify with those that are the sources of unfairness are discussed.