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Paul Bloom
How can we explain kindness and cruelty? Where does our sense of right and wrong come from? Why do people so often disagree about moral issues? This course explores the psychological foundations of our moral lives.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/m3awxa/moralities
What's inside
Syllabus
Welcome to Moralities of Everyday Life!
The Big Questions
What is morality, anyway? What are the big debates in the field of moral psychology?
Read more
Syllabus
Welcome to Moralities of Everyday Life!
The Big Questions
What is morality, anyway? What are the big debates in the field of moral psychology?
Read more
Compassion
Where does concern for others come from? How is it related to empathy—and is more empathy necessarily a good thing? And what can we learn from the study of those who seemingly lack normal moral feelings, such as violent psychopaths?
Origins of Morality
Here, we ask about which aspects of morality are universal. We discuss evolution, cross-cultural research, and the fascinating new science of the moral life of babies.
Differences
How does culture influence our moral thought and moral action? What role does religion play? Why are some of us conservative and others liberal, and how do political differences influence our sense of right and wrong?
Family, Friends, and Strangers
Our moral feelings are usually most powerful towards our kin (such as our parents and our children) and our friends and allies. We will discuss these special bonds, and then turn to the morality of racial and ethnic bias. Then we use the tools of behavioral economics to explore the controversial question of whether we are ever truly altruistic to strangers.
The Big Answers
We’ll discuss some clever studies that show how our moral behavior is powerfully influenced—often at the unconscious level—by the situations that we find ourselves in. Such findings raise some hard problems about determinism, free will, and moral responsibility. Most of all, if our actions are determined by our brains, our genes, and our situations, in what sense can we be said to be moral agents? The course will end by trying to address this question.
Good to know
Good to know
Know what's good ,
what to watch for , and
possible dealbreakers
Suitable for beginners wanting to learn more about the psychological underpinnings of morality
Explores various aspects of morality, including its origins, cultural influences, and relationship with empathy
Led by Paul Bloom, a notable psychologist known for his research on morality
Provides a solid foundation for understanding the complexities of human moral behavior
Examines the role of unconscious factors in shaping moral decisions
May require some prerequisite knowledge in psychology and philosophy
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Reviews summary
Moralities of daily living
Learners say this course is largely positive. It explores the psychological foundations of morality from a multidisciplinary perspective, including insights from psychology, philosophy, and anthropology. Professor Bloom presents engaging lectures and facilitates informative office hours, offering a nuanced understanding of moral decision-making and ethical dilemmas. Students particularly value the course's relevance to everyday life, prompting them to reflect on their own moral values and consider different perspectives. The varied readings and guest speakers provide a well-rounded examination of morality, leaving learners feeling intellectually stimulated and eager to explore the subject further.
There are few negative reviews or complaints about the course.
"My suggested improvements would be to increase the number and frequency of in-lecture questions - the videos are quite long (e.g. 25 mins) and my millenial attention span has been addled by decades of smartphone and internet use - and make the questions more challenging (i.e. based on understanding of the topic rather then based on simple memory recall)."
Learners appreciate the course's focus on the relevance of morality to everyday life, making the concepts relatable and applicable.
"This course is very useful and engaging because explores at different levels how morality is related to our daily way of life much more than we think."
"The teacher Paul Bloom was very clear in the exposition during every lesson and i've found very helpful how the course is structured."
"Thanks for let me know something new!"
"Riccardo Magaldi from Lodi, Italy"
Professor Bloom, the instructor, is praised for his engaging and clear teaching style.
"Professor Bloom is an excellent teacher and manages to explain new concepts and ideas with ease and admirable clarity which always helps tremendously with an interdisciplinary approach such as this one."
"The professor is trying his best to bring the best human out of you as possible."
"I wish more people would get into this class and learn to make the world a better place."
The course material is described as thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating.
"The lectures felt authentic and very clear."
"He certainly was able to express complex ideas in simple terms."
"This course has allowed me to reflect on my own morality and all the factors that influences it."
The course takes a multidisciplinary approach, drawing from psychology, philosophy, and anthropology to provide a comprehensive understanding of morality.
"It has been a really great experience, from the first week until the last."
"This course has really offered what it promised."
"I cannot deny the fact that most of his discussions truly made sense."
"They were all worth knowing as it allows you to reflect and weigh whether you would agree or disagree with Professor Bloom."
"Thank you for letting me know something new."
This course is largely positive, with a sentiment score of 93 out of 100.
"This was not quite what I was expecting. Although I was expecting that the long videos and oral lectures would prevent me from sitting through all of this, it made no difference- the articles were fascinating and listening to Paul Bloom's reasoning and explanations was captivating, to the point where I was disappointed when the lectures would end."
"This was an excellent examination of morality and very appropriate in this age of Trump, COVID and other traumatic events of 2020."
"I have completed seven well taught and interesting Coursera courses and this course was by far the best in terms of content, delivery, guest videos and readings."
"Professor Bloom is an outstanding lecturer and clearly loves teaching."
"I really enjoyed Dr. Bloom's insights into the actions of actual villains and his personal and humourous insights."
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Moralities of Everyday Life with these
activities:
Review the basics of psychology and ethics
Show steps
Reviewing the basics of psychology and ethics will help you better understand the concepts discussed in this course.
Browse courses on
Ethics
Show steps
-
Read a textbook or online article on the basics of psychology.
-
Take a quiz or practice questions on basic psychology concepts.
-
Read a book or article on ethics.
Compile a list of resources on moral psychology
Show steps
Compiling a list of resources on moral psychology will help you better understand the concepts discussed in this course.
Browse courses on
Moral Psychology
Show steps
-
Search for resources on moral psychology.
-
Create a list of the resources you find.
-
Organize the list by topic.
Watch a video lecture on moral psychology
Show steps
Watching a video lecture on moral psychology is a great way to learn more about the topic. There are many great videos available online, so find one that interests you and watch it.
Browse courses on
Moral Psychology
Show steps
-
Search for a video lecture on moral psychology.
-
Watch the video lecture.
-
Take notes on the lecture.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Read The Moral Landscape by Sam Harris
Show steps
The Moral Landscape is a great book that explores the evolutionary basis of morality. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about this topic.
View
Making Sense: Conversations on Consciousness,...
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Buy or borrow a copy of The Moral Landscape.
-
Read the book and take notes.
-
Discuss the book with a friend or colleague.
Attend a workshop on moral reasoning
Show steps
Many universities and organizations offer workshops on moral reasoning. Attending one of these workshops is great way to improve your moral reasoning skills.
Browse courses on
Moral Reasoning
Show steps
-
Search for a workshop on moral reasoning.
-
Register for the workshop.
-
Attend the workshop.
Enter a moral essay contest
Show steps
Entering a moral essay contest is a great way to challenge yourself and learn more about moral issues. There are many different essay contests available, so find one that interests you and enter it.
Show steps
-
Research different moral essay contests.
-
Choose an essay contest to enter.
-
Write an essay on the chosen topic.
Write a blog post or article about a moral issue that you are passionate about
Show steps
Writing a blog post or article about a moral issue will help you better understand the concepts discussed in this course.
Show steps
-
Choose a moral issue that you are passionate about.
-
Research the issue and gather evidence to support your argument.
-
Write a blog post or article that articulates your views on the issue.
Organize a debate or discussion group on a moral issue
Show steps
Organizing a debate or discussion group on a moral issue will help you better understand the different perspectives on the issue.
Show steps
-
Identify a moral issue that you are interested in debating or discussing.
-
Find a group of people who are interested in discussing the issue.
-
Plan a debate or discussion group on the issue.
Review the basics of psychology and ethics
Show steps
Reviewing the basics of psychology and ethics will help you better understand the concepts discussed in this course.
Browse courses on
Ethics
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read a textbook or online article on the basics of psychology.
- Take a quiz or practice questions on basic psychology concepts.
- Read a book or article on ethics.
Compile a list of resources on moral psychology
Show steps
Compiling a list of resources on moral psychology will help you better understand the concepts discussed in this course.
Browse courses on
Moral Psychology
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Search for resources on moral psychology.
- Create a list of the resources you find.
- Organize the list by topic.
Watch a video lecture on moral psychology
Show steps
Watching a video lecture on moral psychology is a great way to learn more about the topic. There are many great videos available online, so find one that interests you and watch it.
Browse courses on
Moral Psychology
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Search for a video lecture on moral psychology.
- Watch the video lecture.
- Take notes on the lecture.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Read The Moral Landscape by Sam Harris
Show steps
The Moral Landscape is a great book that explores the evolutionary basis of morality. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about this topic.
View
Making Sense: Conversations on Consciousness,...
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Buy or borrow a copy of The Moral Landscape.
- Read the book and take notes.
- Discuss the book with a friend or colleague.
Attend a workshop on moral reasoning
Show steps
Many universities and organizations offer workshops on moral reasoning. Attending one of these workshops is great way to improve your moral reasoning skills.
Browse courses on
Moral Reasoning
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Search for a workshop on moral reasoning.
- Register for the workshop.
- Attend the workshop.
Enter a moral essay contest
Show steps
Entering a moral essay contest is a great way to challenge yourself and learn more about moral issues. There are many different essay contests available, so find one that interests you and enter it.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Research different moral essay contests.
- Choose an essay contest to enter.
- Write an essay on the chosen topic.
Write a blog post or article about a moral issue that you are passionate about
Show steps
Writing a blog post or article about a moral issue will help you better understand the concepts discussed in this course.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Choose a moral issue that you are passionate about.
- Research the issue and gather evidence to support your argument.
- Write a blog post or article that articulates your views on the issue.
Organize a debate or discussion group on a moral issue
Show steps
Organizing a debate or discussion group on a moral issue will help you better understand the different perspectives on the issue.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify a moral issue that you are interested in debating or discussing.
- Find a group of people who are interested in discussing the issue.
- Plan a debate or discussion group on the issue.
Career center
Learners who complete Moralities of Everyday Life will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Psychologist
Psychologist
As a Psychologist, you will use your understanding of morality to understand mental and physical conditions. You will use your knowledge of the development of morals and social interactions to better understand the human mind. This course will help you understand the psychological foundations of morality, which is essential for being an effective Psychologist.
Lawyer
Lawyer
As a Lawyer, having a deep foundation in morals will help you understand the nuances and reasoning behind the laws you may be practicing with. You will use your understanding of morality to argue your case as well as apply it to the justice system. Take this course to explore the psychological foundations of our moral lives and gain a deeper understanding of morality.
Journalist
Journalist
As a Journalist, you will be responsible for conveying information to a wide audience. This information often includes the morality and ethics of events happening in the world. By taking this course, you will better understand the moral foundations of people, which will, in turn, help you report on it accurately.
Social Worker
Social Worker
As a Social Worker, you will work with people from all walks of life to help them improve their well-being. Having a strong understanding of morality will help you understand the individuals you work with. This course will help you explore the psychological foundations of our moral lives.
Teacher
Teacher
As a Teacher, you may have the opportunity to teach about the ethics and morals that are taught in this course. Having a deep understanding of the morals of students will also help you better understand them. Take this course to explore the psychological foundations of our moral lives and gain a deeper understanding of morality.
Politician
Politician
As a Politician, you will have the opportunity to make decisions that affect people's lives.
Human Resources Manager
Human Resources Manager
As a Human Resources Manager, you will have the opportunity to work with employees and help them with their careers.
Anthropologist
Anthropologist
As an Anthropologist, you will need to understand the different ethical systems of different cultures.
Sociologist
Sociologist
As a Sociologist, you will need to understand the different ethical systems of different societies.
Philosopher
Philosopher
As a Philosopher, you will have the opportunity to write about and discuss the ethical implications of different issues.
Theologian
Theologian
As a Theologian, you will have the opportunity to study and write about the ethical implications of different religious beliefs.
Counselor
Counselor
As a Counselor, you will help people understand and cope with the challenges of life.
Nurse
Nurse
As a Nurse, you will have the opportunity to help people improve their health.
Doctor
Doctor
As a Doctor, you will have the opportunity to help people improve their health.
Engineer
Engineer
As an Engineer, you will solve technical problems.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/m3awxa/moralities
Reading list
We've selected 33 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Moralities of Everyday Life.
Save
Explores the origins of morality in babies, providing insights into the psychological foundations of our moral lives.
Save
Explores the psychological foundations of morality, with a focus on the role of emotion and intuition in moral decision-making. It valuable resource for understanding the different ways in which people think about and experience morality.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the cognitive science of morality, covering topics such as the development of moral reasoning, the role of emotions in moral judgment, and the neural basis of moral behavior.
Explores the evolutionary origins of morality. It would be a valuable addition to this course, as it would provide students with a deeper understanding of the biological roots of morality.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of the field of moral psychology, covering topics such as the nature of morality, the development of moral judgment, and the role of emotions in moral decision-making.
Explores the evolutionary origins of human morality, arguing that our moral intuitions are the product of natural selection. It fascinating and thought-provoking read that provides a unique perspective on the nature of morality.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the foundations of ethics. It would be a valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the different ethical theories and how these theories have been used to justify moral beliefs and actions.
This reader provides a collection of essays on experimental philosophy. It would be a valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the use of experimental methods to study moral issues.
Save
This reader provides a collection of classic and contemporary essays on moral philosophy. It would be a valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the different ethical theories and how these theories have been used to justify moral beliefs and actions.
Provides a comprehensive introduction to moral philosophy. It would be a good choice for students who want to learn more about the main ethical theories and how these theories have been used to justify moral beliefs and actions.
Explores the historical development of empathy and its role in shaping human civilization.
Save
Challenges the idea that human beings are born with a blank slate, arguing that our genes and our environment both play a role in shaping our moral values. It controversial but important book that has sparked a lively debate about the nature of human nature.
Save
Provides a clear and concise introduction to ethics. It would be a good choice for students who are new to the subject or who want a quick overview of the main ethical theories.
Save
Argues that science can provide a foundation for moral decision-making, offering a controversial but thought-provoking perspective on the nature of morality.
Examines the psychological factors that can lead ordinary people to commit acts of evil, offering insights into the fragility of human morality.
Save
Explores the social and psychological factors that influence our moral behavior. It well-written and engaging book that provides a wealth of insights into the human condition.
Save
Examines the evolutionary origins of human morality, providing a broad historical and anthropological perspective on the development of our moral values.
Save
Explores the role of emotion and reason in moral decision-making, arguing that our moral intuitions are often driven by our emotional responses to situations. It thought-provoking book that challenges our assumptions about the nature of morality.
This textbook provides a clear and concise introduction to the fundamental concepts and theories of ethics, offering a solid foundation for understanding the field.
Save
Examines the psychological factors that can lead good people to commit evil acts. It disturbing but important book that provides a valuable insight into the dark side of human nature.
Explores the ethics of care, an alternative approach to moral decision-making that emphasizes the importance of relationships and emotions.
Explores the role of habits in our lives, arguing that our habits shape our thoughts, feelings, and actions. It practical and informative book that can help us to understand and change our habits.
This textbook provides a survey of the main ethical theories, along with discussions of contemporary ethical issues such as poverty, environmentalism, and animal rights.
Explores the use of nudges to influence people's behavior. Nudges are small changes to the environment that can make it more likely that people will make healthy choices. It fascinating book that has important implications for public policy.
Save
Examines the ethical challenges posed by the development of self-driving cars, offering insights into the future of transportation and technology.
Explores the importance of self-reflection and ethical decision-making in everyday life.
Save
Explores the two systems of thinking that our brains use: System 1, which is fast, intuitive, and emotional, and System 2, which is slow, deliberative, and rational. It groundbreaking book that has revolutionized our understanding of how we think.
Explores the irrational ways in which we make decisions. It fascinating and entertaining book that provides a wealth of insights into the human condition.
Save
Explores the psychology of choice, arguing that we are often overwhelmed by the number of choices we have. It thought-provoking book that provides a valuable perspective on the challenges of decision-making.
Save
Explores the downside of having too many choices. It argues that we are often happier and more satisfied when we have fewer choices to make.
Explores the science of willpower, arguing that we all have a limited amount of willpower and that we need to use it wisely. It practical and informative book that can help us to develop our willpower.
Save
Memoir about one woman's year-long quest to become happier. It funny and inspiring book that provides a valuable perspective on the pursuit of happiness.
Explores the psychology of happiness, arguing that we are often not very good at predicting what will make us happy. It thought-provoking book that provides a fresh perspective on the pursuit of happiness.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/m3awxa/moralities
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Yale University
Instructor
Paul Bloom
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English
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Good to know
Suitable for beginners wanting to learn more about the psychological underpinnings of morality
Explores various aspects of morality, including its origins, cultural influences, and relationship with empathy
Led by Paul Bloom, a notable psychologist known for his research on morality
Provides a solid foundation for understanding the complexities of human moral behavior
Examines the role of unconscious factors in shaping moral decisions
May require some prerequisite knowledge in psychology and philosophy
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