Download Universal Moral Grammar: theory, evidence, and the

Universal Moral
Grammar: theory,
evidence, and the future.
Mikhail, J.(2007) Universal Moral Grammar: Theory,
Evidence, and the Future. Trends in Cognitive Sciences,
(11)4, 143-152. Doi:10.1016/j. tics. 2006.12.007.
Origins of Nature and
Human Moral Cognition
• Mikhail links the study of human morality to
Chomsky’s studies of linguistics
• Chomsky proposed a Universal Grammar that is
innate in all humans. In this article, Mikhail proposes
that a Universal Moral Grammar (UMG) exists as
well.
• Mikhail suggests that humans are born with the
innate ability to make moral decisions
• Nature vs. Nurture
Mikhail, J. (2007) Universal Moral
Grammar: theory, evidence, and
the future.
Five Main Questions
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What constitutes moral knowledge?
How is moral knowledge acquired?
How is moral knowledge put to use?
How is moral knowledge physically realized in the
brain?
• How did moral knowledge evolve in the species?
Mikhail, J. (2007) Universal Moral
Grammar: theory, evidence, and
the future.
Universal Moral Code among
children/different cultures
• Studies have shown that young children have
complex intuitive moral codes that are highly similar
to sophisticated legal codes.
• They are able to determine a moral act from an
immoral one on the basis of intent or purpose.
• Every language contains words or phrases
expressing moral concepts such as permissible,
forbidden, and obligatory.
• Video
Mikhail, J. (2007) Universal Moral
Grammar: theory, evidence, and
the future.
Two Main Arguments for the UMG
approach
• The human mind contains a moral grammar that is a
complex set of rules, concepts, and principles that
generates and relates mental representations of
various types
• The way in which we acquire moral grammar gives
evidence for at least some of its core attributes to be
innate.
Mikhail, J. (2007) Universal Moral
Grammar: theory, evidence, and
the future.
Trolley Problems
• These are used to examine the way humans decide
on the morality of a situation.
• Harm one, or save a larger number of individuals.
• These decisions are often made “rapid, intuitive, and
with a degree of certitude” (Mikhail, 2007, pg 144).
• Deontic rules, structural descriptions, conversion
rules all apply to this model and are applied to these
various scenarios.
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Mikhail, J. (2007) Universal Moral
Grammar: theory, evidence, and
the future.
Critical Review
Interesting points
Unclear points
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There are words used for
morality in every language such
as permissible and forbidden.
Trolley problems are
unconsciously answered using
complex cognitive steps. Mikhail
was able to identify these steps
as well.
Mikhail suggests that we study
how our moral competence
functions rather than where it is
located in our brain.
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Chomsky’s theory of linguistics
is much more testable than
Mikhail’s UMG theory. Words
vs. ideas.
Some Trolley problems can be
vague, perhaps not the best
prediction of morality judgment.
Findings on patient studies for a
moral network of brain regions
regarding moral cognition has
been found controversial.
Mikhail, J. (2007) Universal Moral
Grammar: theory, evidence, and
the future.
Conclusion
• Mikhail aims to show that Universal
Moral Grammar can be examined
through precise formal analysis in order
to reveal the nature of moral cognition.
• Evidence from the trolley problems have
shown that humans are capable of
making intuitive moral decisions
between very similar scenarios.
Mikhail, J. (2007) Universal Moral
Grammar: theory, evidence, and
the future.