Amoral Thoughts About Morality: The Intersection of Science, Psychology, and Ethics

In recent years, the social responsibilities of psychology and psychologists have become a source of considerable controversy. This book seeks to clarify the issues in dispute by analyzing the relationships between scientific facts and moral principles and the implications of these interactions for psychologists in a democratic society. The analysis brings to the surface underlying ethical, legal, and scientific problems that are too easily ignored. These problems are brought into sharp focus by analyzing the relationship between facts and values within an epistemological framework that is applicable to controversial social issues. The query ³Can psychology advocate moral principles and prescribe public policy?² is discussed in great detail as applied to such emotion-laden controversies as intelligence testing, racial differences, affirmative action, multiculturalism, and moral pluralism. This book can serve as a stimulating text for undergraduate and graduate seminars. It is also an excellent resource for psychologists, sociologists, political scientists, psychiatrists, and philosophers.