Nature and Origin of Moral Agency in Mammalia

Moral philosophers often claim that animals lack the basic capacities needed for morality. However, with no account that states the minimal requirements for being a moral agent, that claim is vulnerable. After developing such an account, the dissertation shows that many species of mammals satisfy the minimal requirements for moral agency---specialized emotional capacities that emerge from early attachment processes and motivate moral behavior in humans and other mammals. Additionally, the absence of these emotional capacities explains the absence of moral agency---psychopathy, in humans and other mammals. Making a clear case that mammals possess moral agency has importance for philosophical ethics, philosophical psychology, empirical thought and research, and societal beliefs and practices.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Philosophy

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Reid, Mark D.

Contributors dc:contributor

• James Wallace

• Philosophy

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3250315

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/87599