Is There a Stabilization Point for People's Circles of Concern?
In one sense, you must say, if you think an entity has no mind, or is not like you in any way, not a thread, it's not an issue. Think there probably is an openness to expansion and contraction as people's life situations change. But i certainly don't think there's any kind of critical period a or developmental a point at which things start closing off or solidifying. At least i don't know of any evidence that would suggest that. And so we're potentially less likely to encounter situations that are going to really radically disrupt our circles of moral concern.
Transcript
chevron_right
Play full episode
chevron_right
Transcript
Episode notes
I was raised in the tradition of believing that everyone is of equal moral worth. But when I scrutinise my daily practices, I don’t think I can honestly say that I act as if everyone is of equal moral worth. The idea that some people belong within the circle of moral concern and some do not is central to many moral systems. But what affects the dynamics of the moral circle? How does it contract and expand? Can it expand indefinitely? In this episode I discuss these questions with Joshua Rottman. Josh is an associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Program in Scientific and Philosophical Studies of Mind at Franklin and Marshall College. His research is situated at the intersection of cognitive development and moral psychology, and he primarily focuses on studying the factors that lead certain entities and objects to be attributed with (or stripped of) moral concern.
