Effects of Moral Cognition on Judgments of Intentionality
Department of Philosophy, Rutgers University, 26 Nichol Avenue New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
nado{at}philosophy.rutgers.edu
| Abstract |
|---|
Several recent articles on the concept of intentional action center on experimental findings suggesting that intentionality ascription can be affected by moral factors. I argue that the explanation for these phenomena lies in the workings of a tacit moral judgment mechanism, capable under certain circumstances of altering normal intentionality ascriptions. This view contrasts with that of Knobe ([2006]), who argues that the findings show that the concept of intentional action invokes evaluative notions. I discuss and reject possible objections to the moral mechanism view, and offer arguments supporting the model over Knobe's account on grounds of simplicity and plausibility.
- Introduction
- The Competence Hypothesis
- The Performance Response
- Moral Mechanism Interference
- Blame or Valence?