Moral progress: Recent developments

Area of Science:

• Moral philosophy
• Social sciences
• Psychology
• Biology

Background:

• Societal transformations, including the abolition of chattel slavery and foot-binding, the rise of democracy, establishment of gay rights, and the animal rights movement, prompt questions about moral progress.
• These questions are increasingly explored by philosophers, psychologists, biologists, and sociologists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a systematic overview of recent advancements in understanding moral progress.
• To define moral progress, categorize its types, and review criteria for its assessment.
• To discuss challenges to the psychological possibility of moral progress and its metaethical implications.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of recent developments in moral progress research.
• Conceptual analysis of moral progress and its various forms.
• Examination of normative criteria used to evaluate moral progress.
• Discussion of psychological and metaethical challenges to moral progress.

Main Results:

• The concept of moral progress is complex, with diverse types and evaluation criteria identified in the literature.
• Challenges exist regarding the psychological possibility of moral progress for humans.
• Significant metaethical implications arise from the study of moral progress.

Conclusions:

• Moral progress is a dynamic and debated concept, influenced by historical changes and subject to ongoing philosophical and scientific inquiry.
• Understanding moral progress requires interdisciplinary approaches to address its definition, measurement, and feasibility.
• Further research is needed to fully explore the psychological and metaethical dimensions of moral progress.