Morality and Group Identity (2009)

Undergraduate: Douglas Romney

Faculty Advisor: Joshua Knobe
Department: Philosophy

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Many philosophers are interested in whether the moral views of humanity will eventually converge, so that all humans operate under the same moral framework, or continue to diverge, so that non consensus is ever reached. This line of inquiry is particularly interesting because, although it carries philosophical weight, it is actually an empirical question. To answer this question, we must investigate the nature and development of human morality.

I discuss two commonly held theories of moral development. The experience-based account claims that we rely on our experiences to develop our moral code. The parameter-setting account claims that morality is too complex to be learned this way. Rather, we learn morality as a result of setting certain innate parameters in the brain.

I then outline an experiment I attempted in order to provide evidence for one of these views. I tested certain implications of these theories in an experiment using first-generation Indian-American immigrants. Surprisingly, the results of this study support neither of the accounts. I next provide an alternate account of moral development, namely that much of morality is determined by group membership. I provide reasons to believe that this view, although not currently accepted, is plausible.

Finally, I discuss the implications of my work on the question of moral convergence. The results of my experiment indicate that it is unlikely that humanity will ever unite under one moral framework.