Joshua David Greene

A path-breaking neuroscientist explores how globalization has illuminated the deep moral divisions between opposing sides, drawing on pioneering research to reveal the evolutionary sources of morality while outlining recommendations for bridging divided cultures.

Emotion, Reason, and the Gap Between Us and Them

Moral Tribes

Félix

Greene should have written two different books. The first part of the book that tackles neuroscience and psychology descriptively is amazingly compelling. I'd probably give it five starts a standalone book. 

The second part (aka «Utilitarianism Hallelujah») on the other hand isn't convincing at all. Don't get me wrong, I've nothing against utilitarianism by or in itself, but the argumentation lacks ethical background and commits the fallacies that are reproached toward utilitarianism or consequentialism in general. The two parts are colliding that much, it's as Greene had broken the «Single-subject rule» of the book.

I wanted more. Greene spent over a page to explain a concept as simple as empathy, and then flew through studies and other more complex things. I was left wondering who the audience of this book was. Because I certainly know what empathy is, but if you're using a single module for arguing about moral compass (the trolley design) I need more information about it and why you're focusing so much on it. I was also hoping for more real world applications. This is basically just theory after theory.

It felt more like a case for utilitarianism than anything else. Which, even Greene admit doesn't work in real life without editing what utilitarianism actually is. So, what was the point?

Joshua Greene

A ground-breaking and ambitious book that promotes a new understanding of morality, one that will help us to solve society's biggest problems. Our brains were designed for tribal life, for getting along with a select group of others (Us), and for fighting off everyone else (Them). But modern life has thrust the world's tribes into a shared space, creating conflicts of interest and clashes of values, along with unprecedented opportunities. As the world shrinks, the moral lines that divide us become more salient and more puzzling. We fight over everything from tax codes to gay marriage to global warming, and we wonder where, if at all, we can find our common ground. A grand synthesis of neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy, Moral Tribes reveals the underlying causes of modern conflict and lights a way forward. Our emotions make us social animals, turning Me into Us. But they also make us tribal animals, turning Us against Them. Our tribal emotions make us fight, sometimes with bombs, sometimes with words, and often with life-and-death stakes. Drawing inspiration from moral philosophy and cutting-edge science, Moral Tribes shows when we should trust our instincts, when we should reason, and how the right kind of reasoning can move us forward. Joshua Greene is the director of Harvard University's Moral Cognition Lab, a pioneering scientist, a philosopher, and an acclaimed teacher. The great challenge of Moral Tribes is this: How can we get along with Them when what they want feels so wrong? Finally, Greene offers a surprisingly simple set of maxims for navigating the modern moral terrain, a practical road map for solving problems and living better lives.

Moral Tribes Emotion, Reason, and the Gap Between Us and Them

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