Dumbfounded by the Facts? Understanding the Moral Psychology of Sexual Relationships

Abstract One of the standard examples in contemporary moral psychology originates works social psychologist Jonathan Haidt. He treats people's responses to story Julie and Mark, two siblings who decide have casual, consensual, protected sex, as facts human morality, providing evidence for his intuitionist approach judgements. We argue that Haidt's description reactions respondents ‘morally dumbfounded’ presupposes a view about reasoning is more substantial than he acknowledges. Drawing on philosophical work by Iris Murdoch Cora Diamond, we explore how different descriptions sexuality, family relations engage us evaluations distinctive features life language go deeper Haidt envisages. Thus, show need attend concepts used describe pictures morality these reveal researcher's own understanding experience. This points particular responsibility any researcher into has ensuring they offer are attuned complexities lives those form theories do not appear conceptually confounding.