Embodied Morality: Protectionism, Engagement and Imagination PDF
Preview Embodied Morality: Protectionism, Engagement and Imagination
EMBODIED MORALITY Protectionism, Engagement and Imagination Darcia Narvaez E NDORSEMENTS In a masterful integration of traditions within developmental science, cognitive science, biology, and cultural anthropology, Narvaez and col- leagues build a case for triune ethics meta- theory — a provocative new theory of moral development. The volume provides readers with a thor- ough overview of the theory highlighting foundational work in neurosci- ence, research on early care, and existing models in moral psychology. Complementing this description is a summary of the extensive empirical work generated by the model. This book will undoubtedly infl uence how we view and study moral functioning. Steve Thoma, PhD, University Research Professor and Director, Center for the Study of Ethical Development, University of Alabama, USA Darcia Narvaez offers a brilliant and valuable new look at the nature of optimal moral development. Her triune ethics meta-theory is a much- needed shift away from moral theory grounded in self-interested protec- tionism. Focusing on ideals, Narvaez shows ways that scholars can return to studying and emphasizing optimal human moral developmental—by attending to early development according to an evolutionary systems framing, by measuring a variety of moral mindsets, and by studying the supportive environments that encourage relational presence and com- munal imagination. The book is a must-read for scholars and all others interested in the essential fi eld of moral psychology. William Damon is a Professor of Education at the Stanford Graduate School of Education, Director of the Stanford Center on Adolescence, and co-author of The Power of Ideals i ii ENDORSEMENTS Professor Narvaez’s book starts as a modestly condensed review of tradi- tional moral theories and scholarship but quickly spirals into an intel- lectually ambitious essay on the fundamental pillars of a comprehensive theory of morality. The book is a provocative journey across evolutionary and epigenetic time and space, across proximal and ultimate levels of determinism, and across species and cultures to push the envelope on our understanding of morality. The theory is integrative, the data are per- suasive, and the writing is clear and convincing. This compendium of scholarship has powerful implications for the survival of our species, breaks the borders of complicity, and sounds the call for urgent and foun- dational actions to redress the diseased direction of recent human activi- ties. A captivating book that is sure to stimulate more interest, more debate, and more research, it will be invaluable for persons of scholarship, practice, and policy. Gustavo Carlo, Millsap Professor of Diversity and Multicultural Studies and Director, Center for Family Policy and Research, University of Missouri and co-editor of Prosocial Development In this groundbreaking work, Darcia Narvaez presents an overview of triune ethics meta-t heory, a theory of moral development that draws on a variety of disciplines, including neurobiology, evolutionary theory, and anthropology. Her comprehensive approach to early moral development moves well beyond the cognitivist frameworks of Piaget and Kohlberg, as well as the emotion-based account of Haidt. Neither cognition nor emo- tion alone is central to the development of moral persons, nor can their combination exhaust the explanatory landscape. Narvaez enriches our understanding by showing how neurobiology, evolution, parenting prac- tices, and acculturation profoundly affect our capacities for becoming secure, expansive moral individuals or insecure, narrow, threatened ones. Embodiment, imagination, and social relations are key parts of this picture, which is amply supported not only by theory, but by extensive empirical studies done by Narvaez and others. Narvaez situates her theory within the philosophical tradition of ethical naturalism, and the psychological approach of social cognitivism. Narvaez takes theories of moral development to new levels with her exciting work. Nancy E. Snow, Professor and Director of the Institute for the Study of Human Flourishing, the University of Oklahoma and author of Virtue as Social Intelligence: An Empirically Grounded Theory ENDORSEMENTS iii Darcia Narvaez has brought together neurobiological, personological, and cultural anthropological approaches to provide a highly creative and remarkably broad view of sociomoral development. John C. Gibbs, Professor of Developmental Psychology, The Ohio State University, USA, author of Moral Development and Reality Narvaez is a visionary thinker that sees connections across fi elds and synthesizes them into new directions. Well-grounded in the literature as well as extensively researched, she situates her new meta-theory of embod- ied morality within an evolutionary and naturalistic approach to moral development. This is a thought-provoking book for philosophers interested in care ethics, sentimentalism, virtue ethics, Confucianism, or all those interested in classic questions of human nature, morality, and the ethical impact of parenting and our social environments. Deborah S. Mower, Professor, Philosophy & Religious Studies, Youngstown State University, USA In her inimitable style, Darcia Narvaez draws on a range of the most cutting-edge insights into psychology, ethics, and neuroscience to deliver yet again the kind of work that disrupts all of one’s earlier assumptions. This work stands among her other innovative contributions as one of her most useful in that the characteristic disciplinary rigor, conveyed lucidly, is combined with intensive empirical data. It is an important, timely work that will leave its mark on scholarship in the fi eld of moral psychology. Terence Lovat, Emeritus Professor, University of Newcastle, Australia and Honorary Research Fellow, University of Oxford, UK Embodied Morality: Self-Protection, Engagement, and Imagination brings Darcia Narvaez and colleagues’ exploration of a bold new moral developmental theory, triune ethics meta- theory (TEM), to a new level. In this brief yet cogent and provocative book, Narvaez presents the data she has collected to test her theory. The book’s wide-ranging synthesis of insights from fi elds including evolutionary biology, virtue ethics, affec- tive neuroscience, anthropology, and moral psychology provides a compel- ling argument for the centrality of proper early care for infants and children. Yet it is one thing to argue convincingly for a theory but quite another to provide the careful and thorough research to support it. Narvaez’s promising new research using measures of children’s and iv ENDORSEMENTS adults’ triune ethics orientation now offers the fi eld the solid research base from which to develop policy applications to ensure that we provide children with the kind of life course necessary for them to develop “proso- cial and open-hearted capacities” rather than the “violent tribalism, self- aggrandizement and dominance” that have become such a threat to the modern world. Elizabeth C. Vozzola, Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Saint Joseph, USA, and author of Moral Development: Theory and Applications Once again, Darcia Narvaez has demonstrated her gift for break- through thinking supported by imaginative, meticulous research in developing an ethical naturalist approach to human ethology. For some time, Narvaez and her team have been exploring triune ethics meta- theory (TEM) and, more recently, the Evolved Developmental Niche (EDN) for insights into the role of early childhood experiences and care- giving on moral development. Embodied Morality unpacks and blends these theories with scholarship from multiple domains to build a strong case for TEM as a robust ethical theory based in evolutionary human neurobiology. Included in the book are fi ndings from Narvaez’ research team studies to substantiate her thesis that the quality of tactile, emo- tional, and relational early childhood experience shapes the moral world- view, orientation, and capabilities of adults. Evidence from these studies also suggests that modern cultural patterns of caregiving may fail to provide children with experiences that foster their development as mor- ally capable adults. Moral development scholars, educators, and practi- tioners will fi nd Embodied Morality well worth a thoughtful read as they look forward to Narvaez’ next book. Lindsay J. Thompson, Associate Professor of Business, Leadership, and Human Values, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, USA Embodied Morality Darcia Narvaez Embodied Morality Protectionism, Engagement and Imagination Darcia Narvaez Psychology Department University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana , USA ISBN 978-1-137-55398-0 ISBN 978-1-137-55399-7 (eBook) DOI 10.1057/978-1-137-55399-7 Library of Congress Control Number: 2016939602 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2 016 The author(s) has/have asserted their right(s) to be identifi ed as the author(s) of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifi cally the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfi lms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specifi c statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the pub- lisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Printed on acid-free paper This Palgrave Pivot imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Macmillan Publishers Ltd. London Dedicated to my husband, Daniel Lapsley.
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