Biases for Evil and Moral Perfection

Hans Van Eyghen

doi:10.3390/rel12070521

Biases for Evil and Moral Perfection

Hans Van Eyghen^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

Abstract

I argue that deeply ingrained dispositions to do evil do not render moral perfection impossible. I discuss various accounts of moral perfection and the evidence from cognitive (neuro)science that points towards a strong disposition for evil. Afterwards, I discuss three strategies that can allow humans to overcome their evil dispositions. These are: cognitive enhancement, avoiding triggering situations and structural solutions.

Original language	English
Article number	521
Number of pages	13
Journal	Religions
Volume	12
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12070521
Publication status	Published - Jul 2021

Keywords

cognitive bias
evil
moral perfection
PSYCHOLOGY
EVOLUTION

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10.3390/rel12070521

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title = "Biases for Evil and Moral Perfection",

abstract = "I argue that deeply ingrained dispositions to do evil do not render moral perfection impossible. I discuss various accounts of moral perfection and the evidence from cognitive (neuro)science that points towards a strong disposition for evil. Afterwards, I discuss three strategies that can allow humans to overcome their evil dispositions. These are: cognitive enhancement, avoiding triggering situations and structural solutions.",

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KW - moral perfection

KW - PSYCHOLOGY

KW - EVOLUTION

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JF - Religions

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Biases for Evil and Moral Perfection

Abstract

Keywords

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