Detailed CAPSTONE Outline

Purpose: To discover how moral reasoning of humans is influenced by culture or biology

-are we permitted an entirely individual morality?
I. Introduction
-general reflection on the nature/flexibility of morality and the importance of studying it
Thesis: Despite cross-cultural differences in moral capacities, all individuals are born with a
universal breed of morality that becomes shaped by cultural factors such as religion and
ideology.

II. Cultural Influence

a. Religion
-Role of Religion in Understanding Norms & Valuesthe rigidity and influence of
religion on values
-*Specific research into the moral values of varying religions
-Islam
-ISIS (terrorism)
-Christianity
-Buddhism
-Inclination to trust testimonychildren are powerless of questioning and will ultimately
trust the testimony of their parents
Topic: Religion indoctrinates children with specific values and morals that shape an inbred moral
compass with the pressing influence of family testimony and behavior.
b. Ideology
-*Specific research into ideologies that have bred violence
-Communism
Topic: Ideology, like religion, inculcates certain values that shape moral understanding
throughout childhood.
c. Multi-cultural variation
-provide specific examples from the different countries
-Pew Research Center: comprehensive demonstration

Topic: Evidentially, a notable diversity between moral reasoning across cultures supports the
theory that cultural factors play a major role in moral judgment.
d. Socioeconomic Status
-Moral Reasoning of Students in Different Cultural, Social, and Educational Settings
-Socioeconomic Factors Related to Moral Reasoning (+ Trolley Test)
-both sources provide concrete evidence associated with certain demographics
Topic: Socioeconomic status is largely correlated to moral reasoning given associated
circumstances that influence worldview and necessary action.
e. Education
-Moral Reasoning of Students in Different Cultural, Social, and Educational Settings
-Hitler Youthexemplifies an oppressive education system designed to shape morality
-Trust testimony articledisposed to trust educators
Topic: Education is perhaps one of the most influential factors in an individuals moral
understanding. Variation in educational values has the power to define and redefine moral
understanding, especially at a young age.

III. Biological Foundations

a. Brain Structure
Topic: Despite cultural influence, certain parts of the brain are universally associated with moral
reasoning.
-CNN Brain and Moral Judgmentsdirect evidence supporting moral region
b. Universal Moral Sense
-Born Good? 60 Minutesinborn sense of morality
Topic: Given that all babies have an inbred sense of moral understanding, it can be concluded hat
all babies, unshapen by culture factors, share the same rudimentary moral reasoning.
c. Education Trusting Disposition
-Young Children prone to trust testimony
Topic: A trusting disposition seemingly inborn in children consequently influences moral
reasoning.
d. Predisposition to obey authority
-Stanley Milgram experimentmany chose to obey authority (natural?)

-Adolf Eichmann
Topic: Likewise, humans have an oppressive disposition to obey authority in the absence of
individual morality.
e. Social Psychology Psychological Predispositions
-group polarization
-ingroup outgroup bias
-Born Good? 60 Minutesbabies were already biased against certain group with
opinions unlike theirs
Topic: In groups/social environments, humans are naturally predisposed to alter their moral
decisions based on the influence of other like-minded individuals.

IV. Conclusion