Benevolence in a Justice-Based World: The Power of Sentiments in Predicting Prosocial Behaviors from a great degree of misery, or any degree strongly sympathized “Benevolence…arises with…” David Hume, Treatise of Human Nature ― we incapable of empathy of putting ourselves in the position of others and seeing that “Were – their suffering is like our own then ethical reasoning would lead nowhere. If emotion without – reason is blind, then reason without emotion is impotent.” Peter Singer, Writings on an Ethical Life ― Scholars have long articulated and debated various conceptions of morality. Among the most challenging questions regarding the nature of morality is the issue of the place of benevolence and caring in the framework of understanding moral development. Often presented as a stark contrast to justice-oriented approaches in moral development, benevolence was frequently overshadowed by justice in the prominent developmental theories of Piaget, and especially, Kohlberg (1969). For decades, cognitive-structural developmental theories that emphasized a justice and rational-based approach dominated the scholarly work in moral development. However, in recent years, theoretical and methodological developments, and a newfound recognition of the role of sentiments has shifted greater attention to the prominent role of benevolence in understanding morality. The first major section of the present essay briefly contrasts justice- and benevolence-focused perspectives. The second major section of the essay
Benevolence in a Justice-Based World: The Power of Sentiments in Predicting Prosocial Behaviors “Benevolence…arises from a great degree of misery, or any degree strongly sympathized with…” ― David Hume, Treatise of Human Nature “Were we incapable of empathy – of putting ourselves in the position of others and seeing that their suffering is like our own – then ethical reasoning would lead nowhere. If emotion without reason is blind, then reason without emotion is impotent.” ― Peter Singer, Writings on an Ethical Life Scholars have long articulated and debated various conceptions of morality. Among the most challenging questions regarding the nature of morality is the issue of the place of benevolence and caring in the framework of understanding moral development. Often presented as a stark contrast to justice-oriented approaches in moral development, benevolence was frequently overshadowed by justice in the prominent developmental theories of Piaget, and especially, Kohlberg (1969). For decades, cognitive-structural developmental theories that emphasized a justice and rational-based approach dominated the scholarly work in moral development. However, in recent years, theoretical and methodological developments, and a newfound recognition of the role of sentiments has shifted greater attention to the prominent role of benevolence in understanding morality. The first major section of the present essay briefly contrasts justice- and benevolence-focused perspectives. The second major section of the essay
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