The social intuitionist model offers an explanation of why…
““The social intuitionist model offers an explanation of why moral and political arguments are so frustrating: because moral reasons are the tail wagged by the intuitive dog. A dog’s tail wags to communicate. You can’t make a dog happy by forcibly wagging its tail. And you can’t change people’s minds by utterly refuting their arguments. Hume diagnosed the problem long ago: And as reasoning is not the source, whence either disputant derives his tenets; it is in vain to expect, that any logic, which speaks not to the affections, will ever engage him to embrace sounder principles.49””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Argues moral arguments fail because intuition, not logic, drives belief; reasoning alone cannot change hearts.
In simple terms: Intuition drives morals, not logic.
Key Takeaway
Appeal to emotions, not just facts.
Themes
morality
intuition
argumentation
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- political debates
- ethical discussions
- public policy
Key Concepts
cognitive psychology
emotional persuasion
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you engage both heart and mind?
- When have you changed a mind through empathy?
A Different Perspective
Logic still matters in structuring arguments.