The Use of Psychology in Ethics

Thomistic virtue ethics presents an account of the moral life that is primarily grounded in a metaphysical account of human nature and the human good. While some 'Thomistic psychologists' have sought to incorporate insights from scientific work about the emotional and cognitive processes t...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Pope, Stephen J. 1955- (Author) ; Wahl, Michael A. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:German
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Published: Mohr Siebeck [2018]
In: Philosophy, theology and the sciences
Year: 2018, Volume: 5, Issue: 2, Pages: 181-215
RelBib Classification:CF Christianity and Science
NCA Ethics
VA Philosophy
ZD Psychology
Further subjects:B Ethics
B Zagzebski
B Aquinas
B Psychology
B Admiration
B Virtue
B Exemplarism
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:Thomistic virtue ethics presents an account of the moral life that is primarily grounded in a metaphysical account of human nature and the human good. While some 'Thomistic psychologists' have sought to incorporate insights from scientific work about the emotional and cognitive processes that influence the formation of human habits, their efforts tend only to confirm already-established Thomistic theses. This article explores how Thomistic virtue ethics might more effectively integrate scientific findings by engaging the work of philosopher Linda Zagzebski. Her exemplarist moral theory aims to determine the essential characteristics of moral qualities such as virtue through empirical investigation of concrete moral exemplars. Hence, the sciences play a constitutive rather than merely supporting role in her virtue theory. We argue that Zagzebski's methodology proves instructive for Thomists who aspire to provide an account of virtue that aligns with the most compelling findings of the natural and human sciences.
ISSN:2197-2834
Contains:Enthalten in: Philosophy, theology and the sciences
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1628/ptsc-2018-0016