Schwitzgebel even scrounged up the missing-book lists from…
““Schwitzgebel even scrounged up the missing-book lists from dozens of libraries and found that academic books on ethics, which are presumably borrowed mostly by ethicists, are more likely to be stolen or just never returned than books in other areas of philosophy.49 In other words, expertise in moral reasoning does not seem to improve moral behavior, and it might even make it worse (perhaps by making the rider more skilled at post hoc justification).””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Research shows that knowledge of moral philosophy does not guarantee ethical actions and may even facilitate rationalizations for wrongdoing.
In simple terms: Knowing ethics doesn’t ensure ethical conduct.
Key Takeaway
Don’t assume expertise equals morality.
Themes
ethics
behavior
expertise
Mood
skeptical
analytical
Type
empirical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic settings
- policy making
- personal decision making
Key Concepts
moral psychology
cognitive bias
justification
Questions to Reflect On
- How can moral education be paired with behavior change?
- What safeguards prevent rationalization?
A Different Perspective
Expertise may enable sophisticated self‑justification, not moral improvement.