Philosophy of Science Lecture Series: "Moral Imagination and Why It Matters"

Thursday, November 2nd from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. in Quinn 212

Michael E. Gorman, PhD
Professor of Engineering & Society
University of Virginia
Director, Science, Technology, and Society Program
Director, Policy Internship Program

“Moral Imagination and Why It Matters”

Moral imagination is a process that enables groups or individuals who hold apparently incommensurable ethical truths to envision and collaborate on common goals. The first step is to see that their truths are mental models, often shared across a culture. Truths are sacred, and those who disagree with them are heretics of one form or another. Mental models provide valuable exemplars of right and wrong actions that are specific to a culture. Because these are models, one can share them with those who have different exemplars and perhaps even work together toward common goals that take advantage of the combined wisdom of different cultures.