176 | Joshua Greene on Morality, Psychology, and Trolley Problems
Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
Morality is a Brain Circuit
The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) plays a crucial role in decision-making by integrating various signals that influence moral judgments. Damage to this area can lead to altered moral reasoning, as evidenced by the case of Phineas Gage, who experienced a significant change in character despite retaining reasoning and language abilities. Studies indicate that judgments can be influenced pharmacologically and that different types of brain damage result in distinct patterns of decision-making. Notably, individuals with vmPFC damage may justify harmful actions, like sacrificing one to save five, due to impaired emotional signaling from the amygdala. Understanding these brain circuits sheds light on the complexity of moral reasoning and its neurological underpinnings.
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