The origin and development of the moral ideas by Edward Westermarck
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"The Origin and Development of the Moral Ideas" by Edward Westermarck is a scientific publication written in the early 20th century. The work explores the emotional basis of moral judgments and concepts like right, wrong, and duty, examining the psychological and cultural factors influencing moral opinions across different societies. Westermarck aims to provide insights into moral consciousness by analyzing the roots of morality rather than establishing a definitive ethical guideline. The opening
of the text introduces Westermarck's motivation for writing, stemming from a discussion about moral treatment of individuals with differing ethical views. He expresses curiosity about the origins of varying moral ideas, leading to his extensive research over many years. The first chapter delves into the emotional origins of moral judgments, arguing that these judgments are ultimately expressions of emotions—namely, disapproval and approval. Westermarck promotes the idea that moral concepts are generalizations of tendencies to elicit emotional responses, positioning moral psychology as the crux of ethical discourse. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Westermarck, Edward, 1862-1939 |
|---|---|
| Title | The origin and development of the moral ideas |
| Credits | Produced by Ed Brandon from materials provided by The Internet Archive. |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 62.9 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | BJ: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Ethics, Social usages, Etiquette, Religion |
| Subject | Ethics |
| Subject | Prehistoric peoples |
| Subject | Ethics -- History |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 52106 |
| Release Date | May 19, 2016 |
| Last Update | Oct 23, 2024 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 11829 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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