Realizing Relationships: How the Applications of Care Ethics are Influenced by Moral Intuitions and Moral Circle
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Lisa Thompson
Department
RCHSS - Sociology & Criminal Justice
Abstract
Philosophers and psychologists alike have long examined how an individual’s morals impact ethical decision-making. However, prior research has examined this topic with a limited lens, neglecting the impact of how different interpersonal relationships and partiality towards others may impact our decision making. Therefore, we explore whether the impact of moral intuitions is moderated by different types of care relationships when making decisions that involve partiality. We operationalize moral intuitions through the lens of Moral Foundations Theory (MFT) and develop a set of scenarios in which participants are asked to choose between different types of caring relationships. The current study aims to discover links between individuals’ specific moral foundation endorsement and their propensity to respond to our scenarios involving care. According to preliminary findings, we would anticipate that there is a link between one’s moral circles and their decision-making process and outcomes. We hope to utilize this research to further analyze how people view relationships (i.e., their moral circle) and how those relationships impact their moral intuitions and decision-making.
Disciplines
Applied Ethics | Personality and Social Contexts | Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance
Realizing Relationships: How the Applications of Care Ethics are Influenced by Moral Intuitions and Moral Circle
Philosophers and psychologists alike have long examined how an individual’s morals impact ethical decision-making. However, prior research has examined this topic with a limited lens, neglecting the impact of how different interpersonal relationships and partiality towards others may impact our decision making. Therefore, we explore whether the impact of moral intuitions is moderated by different types of care relationships when making decisions that involve partiality. We operationalize moral intuitions through the lens of Moral Foundations Theory (MFT) and develop a set of scenarios in which participants are asked to choose between different types of caring relationships. The current study aims to discover links between individuals’ specific moral foundation endorsement and their propensity to respond to our scenarios involving care. According to preliminary findings, we would anticipate that there is a link between one’s moral circles and their decision-making process and outcomes. We hope to utilize this research to further analyze how people view relationships (i.e., their moral circle) and how those relationships impact their moral intuitions and decision-making.