| | Matthew:
I like your logic! (sanction definitely deserved)
Glenn:
My reference to emotional processing influencing ethical judgements/reasoning is based on other research. In this research, people are given scenarios in which logic would dictate that the action is morally acceptable, yet people forgo logic and judgement the situation based on their emotions.
For example, one situation presented to people is of a brother and sister--both adults--having consensual sex. They have sex just once mind you. After the experience, both of them have a pleasant memory about it, never speak of it to anyone, and life goes on. When presented with this situation (and others like it), the vast, vast majority of people base their moral judgement on their "gut reaction." Namely, they "conclude" (i.e., rationalize) this behavior is morally wrong when clear logic would dictate otherwise. In this situation, the logic is that there is consensual sex without harm to either party.
Also, it's my everyday observation that many people rationalize their moral pronouncements based on their feelings.
Hence, given the fact the emotions can and do influence ethical reasoning, I think it's important for ethical theorizing to take this into account emotional processing. Although we--as Objectivists--would ideally want people to reason objectively about ethical decisions, I think we also have to accept that objectivity is not necessarily how most people arrive at their ethical judgements.
I also think we need to accept that our ~own~ emotions may be influence our own reasoning about ethical judgements. That we need to be on guard about the "natural" tendency to let emotion influence our ethical reasoning (or our reasoning in general). If we think we are immune to this because we are "good Objectivists," I think we would be deceiving ourselves.
-Walter
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