Morality

Abstract

Ethical judgments depend on values, understood as processes of neural firing produced by binding concepts with emotional attitudes, which in turn result from binding of physiological states and cognitive appraisals. As semantic pointers that integrate cognition and emotion, values contribute to thought and action biologically, in contrast to values as abstract entities whose mental impact is inexplicable. Because emotions include a crucial appraisal dimension, they can be judged to be rational or irrational, so that values can be objective or subjective. The key to translating human nature into morality lies in needs, not just as instrumental wants but as basic requirements for living as a human being. Full human functioning requires satisfaction of psychological needs for relatedness, autonomy, and competence.