Moral Inertia

Abstract. The phenomenon of moral inertia is often explained by reference to all-encompassing features of human nature, such as laziness and cowardice, but in fact it has many causes. A modern person may fail to “stand up” to social evil because he has difficulty seeing it-perhaps because it is deli...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Maxwell, Mary (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Wiley-Blackwell 1992
In: Zygon
Year: 1992, Volume: 27, Issue: 1, Pages: 51-64
Further subjects:B Social Action
B Moral Language
B Morality
B Evil
B apathy
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Summary:Abstract. The phenomenon of moral inertia is often explained by reference to all-encompassing features of human nature, such as laziness and cowardice, but in fact it has many causes. A modern person may fail to “stand up” to social evil because he has difficulty seeing it-perhaps because it is deliberately hidden or because she and her neighbors cannot find ways to recognize and discuss it as a soluble problem. Fourteen factors contributing to moral inertia will be listed here under the headings of cognitive and linguistic factors. Further, a consideration of ideology's role (both liberal and Marxist) in inhibiting action against social evil will be presented.
ISSN:1467-9744
Contains:Enthalten in: Zygon
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9744.1992.tb00998.x