A Psychological Approach to Ethical Reality (Volume 132) (Advances in Psychology, Volume 132)

The pre-eminent 19th century British ethicist, Henry Sidgwick once said: "All important ethical notions are also psychological, except perhaps the fundamental antitheses of 'good' and 'bad' and 'wrong', with which psychology, as it treats of what is and not of what ought to be, is not directly concerned" (quoted in T.N. Tice and T.P. Slavens, 1983). Sidgwick's statement can be interpreted to mean that psychology is relevant for ethics or that psychological knowledge contributes to the construction of an ethical reality. This interpretation serves as the basic impetus to this book, but Sidgwick's statement is also analyzed in detail to demonstrate why a current exposition on the relevance of psychology for ethical reality is necessary and germane. Content: Preface Pages ix-xi Acknowledgments Page xiii 1 Domain of the ought: Prolegomena Pages 1-22 2 Psychology: Prolegomena Pages 23-34 3 Why psychology is interested in ethics Pages 35-55 4 Why a psychological analysis of ethics is necessary Pages 57-62 5 Orientations; content of observation: Types of moral judgments Pages 63-81 6 Epiphenomena: Domain of ethical phenomena Pages 83-101 7 Epistemology: Existential status of moral judgments/value qualities Pages 103-119 8 Metaphysics: Contentual ethical issues Pages 121-157 9 Application: Construction of an ethical reality Pages 159-204 Name index Pages 205-206 Subject index Pages 207-219 Interprets Henry Sidgwick's statement to mean that psychology is relevant for ethics or that psychological knowledge contributes to the construction of an ethical reality. This work analyzes and demonstrates why exposition on the relevance of psychology for ethical reality is necessary and germane. The domain of the ought includes ethics, morality, and human conduct.