Trolleyology (MORAL DILEMMAS + THE TROLLEY PROBLEM) with Joshua Greene
Summary
Dr. Joshua Greene, a Harvard psychology professor and "trolleyologist," delves into the classic trolley problem and its variations, dissecting the psychological and neurological underpinnings of moral decisions. He contrasts utilitarianism and Kantian ethics, explains Peter Singer's "Drowning Child" argument, and discusses how evolutionary "bugs" influence our responses to global suffering. The episode also highlights the Giving Multiplier platform for effective charity and the "Let's Tango" game, a scientific effort to reduce political animosity through cooperative engagement.Episode description
Train tracks. Split decisions. And a philosophy humdinger worth debating. Dr. Joshua Greene is a Harvard Psychology professor, neuroscientist, and *actual* Trolleyologist. The moral humdinger that has been used in everything from Supreme Court decisions to board games looks at: What makes you a good person? How do you reason with people who make you scream into a jar like Yosemite Sam? How far would you go to save others? Which charities should get your money? What is active versus passive harm? And what would a monk do? Also: how neurodivergence influences moral decisions, religion used as a moral compass, and your new favorite skeleton on the planet.
Visit Dr. Greene’s website, his charity platform Giving Multiplier, and his online quiz game Tango
Buy his book, Moral Tribes: Emotion, Reason, and the Gap Between Us and Them, on Bookshop.org or Amazon
A donation went to Giving Multiplier
More episode sources and links
Other episodes you may enjoy: Eudemonology (HAPPINESS), Genocidology (CRIMES OF ATROCITY), Obsessive-Compulsive Neurobiology (OCD), Bonus Episode: The OCD Experience, Artificial Intelligence Ethicology (WILL A.I. CRASH OUT?), Attention-Deficit Neuropsychology (ADHD), Suicidology (SUICIDE PREVENTION & AWARENESS), Dolorology (PAIN), Molecular Neurobiology (BRAIN CHEMICALS), Personality Psychology (PERSONALITIES), Ferroequinology (TRAINS)
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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake Chaffee
Managing Director: Susan Hale
Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth
Transcripts by Aveline Malek
Website by Kelly R. Dwyer
Theme song by Nick Thorburn
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