Emotions – that is to say feelings and intuitions – play a major role in most of the ethical decisions people make. Most people do not realize how much their emotions direct their moral choices. But experts think it is impossible to make any important moral judgments without emotions.
Inner-directed negative emotions like guilt, embarrassment, and shame often motivate people to act ethically.
Outer-directed negative emotions, on the other hand, aim to discipline or punish. For example, people often direct anger, disgust, or contempt at those who have acted unethically. This discourages others from behaving the same way.
Positive emotions like gratitude and admiration, which people may feel when they see another acting with compassion or kindness, can prompt people to help others.
Emotions evoked by suffering, such as sympathy and empathy, often lead people to act ethically toward others. Indeed, empathy is the central moral emotion that most commonly motivates prosocial activity such as altruism, cooperation, and generosity.
So, while we may believe that our moral decisions are influenced most by our philosophy or religious values, in truth our emotions play a significant role in our ethical decision-making.
U.S. History
1st EditionJohn Lund, Paul S. Vickery, P. Scott Corbett, Todd Pfannestiel, Volker Janssen
567 solutions
Tonal Harmony, Workbook
8th EditionByron Almen, Dorothy Payne, Stefan Kostka
1,387 solutions
America's History for the AP Course
9th EditionEric Hinderaker, James A. Henretta, Rebecca Edwards, Robert O. Self
961 solutions
The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric
2nd EditionLawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses
661 solutions
Recommended textbook solutions
Operations Management: Sustainability and Supply Chain Management
12th EditionBarry Render, Chuck Munson, Jay Heizer
1,698 solutions
Service Management: Operations, Strategy, and Information Technology
7th EditionJames Fitzsimmons, Mona Fitzsimmons
103 solutions
Human Resource Management
15th EditionJohn David Jackson, Patricia Meglich, Robert Mathis, Sean Valentine
249 solutions
Human Resource Management
15th EditionJohn David Jackson, Patricia Meglich, Robert Mathis, Sean Valentine
249 solutions
Recommended textbook solutions
The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric
2nd EditionLawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses
661 solutions
Tonal Harmony, Workbook
8th EditionByron Almen, Dorothy Payne, Stefan Kostka
1,387 solutions
U.S. History
1st EditionJohn Lund, Paul S. Vickery, P. Scott Corbett, Todd Pfannestiel, Volker Janssen
567 solutions
Ways of the World: A Global History
3rd EditionRobert W. Strayer
232 solutions