PHIL401
November 2, 2017
Objection to Joyce
In Chapter 3 of The Evolution of Morality, Richard Joyce argues that “language is a prerequisite for having moral emotions” (Joyce, 76). According to Joyce, moral emotions are rich conceptually, and they have to involve moral concepts. He focuses on guilt, which is an emotion that is both related to moral sense and the language evolved traits. In this paper, I will argue that language is not a necessity for non-language users to have moral emotions since thoughts can come before language.
Joyce starts the chapter with the discussion of how non-language users cannot have moral thoughts. He uses the example of chimpanzees to argue that even if instrumentalism is a way to prove animals’ actions can …show more content…
For example, when we are in an amusement park, does the sentence, “I feel happy,” exist in our mind? The happy inner feeling comes before you realize it. The same applies to guilt. Imagine that you break your mom’s favorite vase. The feeling of guilt comes at the second when you accidentally hit it and see the broken vase on the floor. “I feel sorry, and my mom will punish me for it.” Before you think of that sentence, your mind already gets the feeling. Therefore, I argue that moral emotions come before languages. Thought without language exists under circumstances that we have the self-awareness of the world. We are aware of our actions and the consequences, while under many conditions, language is not a necessity for explaining the …show more content…
In her book, The Story of My Life, she writes about her childhood. Before Keller met her teacher, Anne Sullivan, she does not have any ability of language. During that period, Keller has the sense of moral emotions. Keller stood between two persons who talk to each other. She tried to imitate them, but she could not make a sound (Part I, Chapter II). This provoked her because Keller believes it is unfair that other people can use their mouth to speak, but she could not. This example proves that she had this sense of moral emotion of unfairness at the age of five when she is still incapable of using any language in any form. Keller also says that she knew she is different from others, even though she cannot tell what it is
November 2, 2017
Objection to Joyce
In Chapter 3 of The Evolution of Morality, Richard Joyce argues that “language is a prerequisite for having moral emotions” (Joyce, 76). According to Joyce, moral emotions are rich conceptually, and they have to involve moral concepts. He focuses on guilt, which is an emotion that is both related to moral sense and the language evolved traits. In this paper, I will argue that language is not a necessity for non-language users to have moral emotions since thoughts can come before language.
Joyce starts the chapter with the discussion of how non-language users cannot have moral thoughts. He uses the example of chimpanzees to argue that even if instrumentalism is a way to prove animals’ actions can …show more content…
For example, when we are in an amusement park, does the sentence, “I feel happy,” exist in our mind? The happy inner feeling comes before you realize it. The same applies to guilt. Imagine that you break your mom’s favorite vase. The feeling of guilt comes at the second when you accidentally hit it and see the broken vase on the floor. “I feel sorry, and my mom will punish me for it.” Before you think of that sentence, your mind already gets the feeling. Therefore, I argue that moral emotions come before languages. Thought without language exists under circumstances that we have the self-awareness of the world. We are aware of our actions and the consequences, while under many conditions, language is not a necessity for explaining the …show more content…
In her book, The Story of My Life, she writes about her childhood. Before Keller met her teacher, Anne Sullivan, she does not have any ability of language. During that period, Keller has the sense of moral emotions. Keller stood between two persons who talk to each other. She tried to imitate them, but she could not make a sound (Part I, Chapter II). This provoked her because Keller believes it is unfair that other people can use their mouth to speak, but she could not. This example proves that she had this sense of moral emotion of unfairness at the age of five when she is still incapable of using any language in any form. Keller also says that she knew she is different from others, even though she cannot tell what it is