Summary: | This book is concerned with the advances from research of the human brain as it informs us on how we make moral decisions. It examines the role of genetics and early changes in brain biology, and the environmental factors that supplement brain biology to trigger moral versus immoral decision-making. Neuroscience research over the past twenty or more years has brought about a significant change in our perceptions of how the brain affects morality. Findings show that the mind and brain are very close, if not the same, and that the brain 'makes' the mind. This is bringing about a change of focus from examining mental activity ('mentalism') to the physical activity of the brain ('physicalism') to understand thinking and behavior. We are discovering that the physical features of the brain play the major role in shaping our thoughts and emotions, including the way we deal with 'moral' issues. This book sets out the historical framework of the transition from mentalism to physicalism, shows how the physical brain works in moral decisions, and then examines three broad areas of moral decision making: the brain in 'bad' acts, the brain in decisions involving sexual relations, and the brain in money decision making. Book jacket. Also includes information on free will, lying, decision making, evil, fairness, Ricky Green case history, serial killer case history, etc.
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