9.46 | Fall 2017 | Undergraduate

Neuroscience of Morality

Course Description

How do we decide whether an action is morally wrong? How do we choose to do what is right? When and why do we punish wrong-doers? Moral behavior and moral evaluation are functions of the human brain. It is just becoming possible to use neuroscientific methods to understand how they work. This course will consider the …
How do we decide whether an action is morally wrong? How do we choose to do what is right? When and why do we punish wrong-doers? Moral behavior and moral evaluation are functions of the human brain. It is just becoming possible to use neuroscientific methods to understand how they work. This course will consider the mechanisms of morality as a question for neuroscientists.
Learning Resource Types
Exams
Written Assignments
fMRI image of regions in the brain used in assessing intent.
fMRI indicating areas of the brain used in considering someone’s intentions; right and left TPJ, MPFC & precuneus. Image courtesy of Professor Rebecca Saxe.