Moral Philosophy
This ethical theory judges actions based on whether they follow universal rules.
What is deontology?
In this classic dilemma, you must decide whether to push a man off a bridge to stop a trolley.
What is the footbridge dilemma?
This steroid hormone is often linked to dominance and aggression in animals.
What is testosterone?
Exogenous testosterone was found to increase this CNI model parameter related to rule-following.
What is the N parameter (norm sensitivity)?
This ancient Greek philosopher was sentenced to death for "corrupting the youth" and drank hemlock.
Who is Socrates?
This ethical theory focuses on the outcomes and greatest good for the greatest number.
What is utilitarianism?
A dilemma in which harm is caused indirectly via a lever or switch is this type.
What is incidental?
Testosterone increases reactivity in this brain region associated with threat and emotion.
What is the amygdala?
This type of testosterone reflects long-term hormonal traits.
What is endogenous testosterone?
Descartes’ famous phrase that attempts to prove his own existence.
What is "I think, therefore I am"?
According to Kantian ethics, Alex must repay his loan—even if lying would help him—because of this kind of duty.
What is a moral or categorical duty?
These two factors distinguish instrumental self dilemmas from others.
What are direct action and personal risk?
This brain region regulates emotional responses and is involved in higher-order moral reasoning.
What is the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC)?
Higher baseline testosterone was associated with lower sensitivity to this aspect of moral judgment.
What are moral norms?
This ethical thought experiment asks whether you should divert a runaway trolley to save five people at the cost of one life.
What is the trolley problem?
Bentham’s moral philosophy focuses on maximizing this.
What is happiness (or utility)?
Participants in the Arnocky were less likely to choose this kind of response in instrumental dilemmas.
What is a utilitarian response?
An increase in testosterone can lead to this
What is an increase in amygdala reactivity?
Testosterone's effect on moral behavior appears to depend on this factor.
What is context?
This famous puzzle asks whether something continues to be the same object after all of its parts are replaced.
What is the Ship of Theseus?
This 3-part model measures sensitivity to consequences, norms, and action preference.
What is the CNI model?
This type of dilemma involves a proscriptive moral rule being violated (e.g., “do not kill”) for a greater good.
What is a high-benefit proscriptive dilemma?
The vmPFC sends these signals to the amygdala when threat cues are not actually dangerous.
What are inhibitory signals?
Some models explains testosterone’s moral effects as shifts in behavior to maximize this kind of advantage
What is social (or status) advantage?
This psychologist was also a philosopher and he might have some interesting things to say about you and your mother.
Who is Sigmund Freud?