--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We now have a better biological and…" description: "\"We now have a better biological and psychological understanding of our moral thinking. The idea that we should do what maximizes happiness sounds very ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/joshua-greene-51160_character_we-now-have-a-better-biological-and-psyc_331523.jpg" --- # We now have a better biological and psychological… ![“We now have a better biological and psychological understanding of our moral thinking. The idea that we should do what maximizes happiness sounds very reasonable, but it often conflicts with our gut reactions. Philosophers have spent the last century or so finding examples where our intuition runs…” quote by Joshua Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/joshua-greene-51160_character_we-now-have-a-better-biological-and-psyc_331523.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/joshua-greene-51160_character_we-now-have-a-better-biological-and-psyc_331523.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/joshua-greene-51160_character_we-now-have-a-better-biological-and-psyc_331523.jpg) > “We now have a better biological and psychological understanding of our moral thinking. The idea that we should do what maximizes happiness sounds very reasonable, but it often conflicts with our gut reactions. Philosophers have spent the last century or so finding examples where our intuition runs counter to this idea and have taken these as signals that something is wrong with this philosophy. But when you look at the psychology behind those examples, they become less compelling. An alternative is that our gut reactions are not always reliable.” [Joshua Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-greene/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our moral intuitions often clash with utilitarian calculations; examining psychological evidence shows gut feelings can be unreliable guides. **In simple terms:** Intuition vs. happiness maximization Key Takeaway Question intuition reliability Themes morality psychology utilitarianism Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - ethical decision making - public policy - personal dilemmas Key Concepts Intuition happiness cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance intuitive judgments with rational analysis? - When should we trust gut feelings? A Different Perspective Intuitions sometimes reflect evolved adaptive responses that are still valuable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Guts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guts/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Intuition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intuition/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Maximizes Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maximizes-happiness-3100399/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-thinking-252609/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Psychological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychological/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Reactions Philosophers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reactions-philosophers-3100398/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Understanding Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding-moral-625111/) ## Related quotes > [Morality is essentially a suite of psychological mechanisms that enable us to cooperate. But, biologically at least, we only evolved to cooperate in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-greene/morality-is-essentially-a-suite-of-psychological-mechanisms-that/) [Joshua Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-greene/) > [Not one idiot in a thousand has been entirely refractory to treatment, not one in a hundred has not been made more happy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-seguin/not-one-idiot-in-a-thousand-has-been-entirely-refractory-to-treatment/) [Edouard Seguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-seguin/) > [It seems to me that responsiveness is a better source for understanding what moral claims are and how they work upon us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/it-seems-to-me-that-responsiveness-is-a-better-source-for/) [Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/) > [I think we do have a better understanding now of how moral thought and discourse function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-wilson/i-think-we-do-have-a-better-understanding-now-of-how-moral-thought/) [Catherine Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-wilson/) > [My work is based on the assumption that clarity and consistency in our moral thinking is likely, in the long run, to lead us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/my-work-is-based-on-the-assumption-that-clarity-and-consistency-in/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“Our moral thinking is much more like a politician searching for votes than a scientist searching for truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/our-moral-thinking-is-much-more-like-a-politician-searching-for-votes/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [At the foundation of moral thinking lie beliefs in statements the truth of which no further reason can be given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-the-foundation-of-moral-thinking-lie-beliefs-in-statements-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I reviewed five areas of research showing that moral thinking is more like a politician searching for votes than a scientist searching for truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/i-reviewed-five-areas-of-research-showing-that-moral-thinking-is-more/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [“moral thinking is more like a politician searching for votes than a scientist searching for truth:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/moral-thinking-is-more-like-a-politician-searching-for-votes-than-a/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [When you share your moral common sense with people in your locality, that helps you to form a community. But those gut reactions differ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-greene/when-you-share-your-moral-common-sense-with-people-in-your-locality/) [Joshua Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-greene/) > [I think that one of the hardest things in the world to be is a black male. I mean everyone hates your guts. White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-think-that-one-of-the-hardest-things-in-the-world-to-be-is-a-black/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [You're getting into some kind of shape, cop." Aw, come on, now." Butch grinned. "Don't let that shower we took go to your head."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/you-re-getting-into-some-kind-of-shape-cop-aw-come-on-now-butch/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) ## More by Joshua Greene > [Morality is essentially a suite of psychological mechanisms that enable us to cooperate. But, biologically at least, we only evolved to cooperate in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-greene/morality-is-essentially-a-suite-of-psychological-mechanisms-that/) [Joshua Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-greene/) > [Utilitarianism is inherently pragmatic - in fact, I prefer to call it "deep pragmatism." Humans have real limitations, obligations, and frailties, so the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-greene/utilitarianism-is-inherently-pragmatic-in-fact-i-prefer-to-call-it/) [Joshua Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-greene/) > [When you share your moral common sense with people in your locality, that helps you to form a community. But those gut reactions differ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-greene/when-you-share-your-moral-common-sense-with-people-in-your-locality/) [Joshua Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-greene/) > [When there is a conflict, which group's sense of right and wrong should prevail? If a morality is a system that allows individuals to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-greene/when-there-is-a-conflict-which-group-s-sense-of-right-and-wrong/) [Joshua Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-greene/) > [Since functional brain imaging first emerged, we have learned that there aren't very many brain regions uniquely responsible for specific tasks; most complex tasks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-greene/since-functional-brain-imaging-first-emerged-we-have-learned-that/) [Joshua Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-greene/) > [When you are thinking about whether you have an obligation to try to save people's lives, you don't usually think, well, how close by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-greene/when-you-are-thinking-about-whether-you-have-an-obligation-to-try-to/) [Joshua Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-greene/) [Explore all 7 Joshua Greene quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-greene/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We now have a better biological and psychological understanding of our moral thinking. 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