Who Are We to Judge?’: Pathologies of Moral Judgement
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Abstract
This study profiles and peruses different ways of thinking that are pathological to moral judgement. Based on the interviews with respondents who experienced passing and receiving moral judgement as well as conversations with social science and philosophy academics, the study profiles ten pathological attitudes that viewed moral judgment as an exercise in hypocrisy, moral superiority and perfectionism, judgementalism, negativity, interference, moral vagueness, sentimentalism, and profanity. In like manner, those who make moral judgement are stereotyped as hypocrites, judgmental, negative, hostile, arrogant, self-righteous, and intolerant. These negative stereotypes discourage people from engaging in moral judgement in the public sphere. As moral judgement becomes a social pariah, the moral order degenerates, aggravating the culture of moral indifference that characterizes most contemporary societies. Counteracting the phenomenon of moral dissipation entails the emancipation of moral judgement from pathological attitudes. A constructive and responsible exercise of moral judgement is paramount to maintenance of the moral borders and boundaries in society.
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