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Intention, temporal order, and moral judgments

Publication ,  Journal Article
Sinnott-Armstrong, W; Mallon, R; McCoy, T; Hull, JG
Published in: Mind and Language
February 1, 2008

The traditional philosophical doctrine of double effect claims that agents' intentions affect whether acts are morally wrong. Our behavioral study reveals that agents' intentions do affect whether acts are judged morally wrong, whereas the temporal order of good and bad effects affects whether acts are classified as killings. This finding suggests that the moral judgments are not based on the classifications. Our results also undermine recent claims that prior moral judgments determine whether agents are seen as causing effects intentionally rather than as side effects. © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Mind and Language

DOI

EISSN

1468-0017

ISSN

0268-1064

Publication Date

February 1, 2008

Volume

23

Issue

1

Start / End Page

90 / 106

Related Subject Headings

  • Experimental Psychology
  • 5003 Philosophy
  • 4704 Linguistics
  • 2203 Philosophy
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
 

Citation

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Sinnott-Armstrong, W., Mallon, R., McCoy, T., & Hull, J. G. (2008). Intention, temporal order, and moral judgments. Mind and Language, 23(1), 90–106. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0017.2007.00330.x
Sinnott-Armstrong, W., R. Mallon, T. McCoy, and J. G. Hull. “Intention, temporal order, and moral judgments.” Mind and Language 23, no. 1 (February 1, 2008): 90–106. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0017.2007.00330.x.
Sinnott-Armstrong W, Mallon R, McCoy T, Hull JG. Intention, temporal order, and moral judgments. Mind and Language. 2008 Feb 1;23(1):90–106.
Sinnott-Armstrong, W., et al. “Intention, temporal order, and moral judgments.” Mind and Language, vol. 23, no. 1, Feb. 2008, pp. 90–106. Scopus, doi:10.1111/j.1468-0017.2007.00330.x.
Sinnott-Armstrong W, Mallon R, McCoy T, Hull JG. Intention, temporal order, and moral judgments. Mind and Language. 2008 Feb 1;23(1):90–106.
Journal cover image

Published In

Mind and Language

DOI

EISSN

1468-0017

ISSN

0268-1064

Publication Date

February 1, 2008

Volume

23

Issue

1

Start / End Page

90 / 106

Related Subject Headings

  • Experimental Psychology
  • 5003 Philosophy
  • 4704 Linguistics
  • 2203 Philosophy
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology