Pragmatism, morality, William James, Antisocial Personality Disorder, environmental factors, moral sense, individual experiences
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Abstract
This document explores the concept of pragmatism and its limitations in defining morality, particularly in the context of William James' definition. It examines how people with Antisocial Personality Disorder experience morality and how environmental factors can bias our perception of morality. The document also discusses the challenges of redefining morality and the importance of individual experiences in shaping our moral sense.
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[...] However, this sense of morality can be biased due to several factors. We will see that psychological factors can totally transform morality from a conventional point of view and that different environmental factors can bias our perception of morality. According to the dictionary definition Le Robert, Morality is the science of good and evil, it is a theory of human action subject to duty and having the goal of good. We can all easily imagine which actions correspond to good and evil. [...]
[...] Any concept can therefore be experimented with." However, some concepts are more prone to debate than others, such as the subject of morality, which is a highly relevant concept in society. We have a rather conventional view of it due to our experiences, but this is not necessarily the case for everyone. We will therefore see the limits of pragmatism with regard to the concept of morality. We experiment with the notion of morality in various ways, whether it is inculcated by our peers or we become aware of it ourselves at different times in our lives. [...]
[...] The experiences we have at a young age are decisive for the person we will become later. So if the first experiences we have to build us are already beyond the limit of moral sense, we will not be able to redefine this concept in the right way in the future. A child who is subjected to violence and has only known that, will build his definition of morality around this way of thinking. He will not see the problem with being mistreated, because it is part of his logic. [...]
[...] Pragmatism can work for relatively simple subjects that do not offer as many contradictions. But when we turn to more ambiguous and personal concepts, pragmatism loses its meaning since each person proposes an individual definition that can be contradictory with others or with themselves. Certain philosophical concepts may not correspond at all to pragmatism. This notion may also completely surpass our mind, which would explain why it is so difficult for us to think collectively about its definitions. We will therefore be the only limits to pragmatism. [...]
[...] Lacking empathy, these people may have actions that seem immoral. Such as causing harm to others, lying etc. They do not act to do good around them, but they act in their own interest. They do not have this notion of good and evil. Some people with Antisocial Personality Disorder explain that they maintain relationships only when they have an interest in them. If someone brings them nothing, then they will not continue that relationship. Their relationships and actions are always done for profit. [...]
