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Centre for Consciousness

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Centre for Moral, Social and Political Theory

Centre for Philosophy of the Sciences

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HomeUpcoming EventsEric Schwitzgebel (UC Riverside): The Moral Behavior of Ethics Professors
Eric Schwitzgebel (UC Riverside): The Moral Behavior of Ethics Professors

Abstract: Do professional ethicists behave any morally better than do non-ethicists of similar social background?  If not, do they at least show greater consistency between their normative attitudes and their outward behavior? Despite a long philosophical tradition associating philosophical reflection with improved moral behavior, these questions have never been empirically examined.  We present convergent evidence from studies of about a dozen different types of moral behavior.  Our results suggest that ethicists behave no morally better on average or any more consistently with their espoused values.  Using a combination of direct observation and self-report measures, we examine: the misappropriation of library books, voting in public elections, courtesy at professional meetings, responsiveness to student emails, charitable donation, organ and blood donation, professional society membership, staying in touch with one's mother, vegetarianism, honesty in responses to surveys, and peer evaluation of overall moral behavior.

Date & time

  • Tue 05 Apr 2011, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Location

Coombs Seminar Room B

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Philsoc seminars