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The Moral Sense (Magill’s Literary Annual 1991-2005)

In The Moral Sense, James Q Wilson attempts to rescue the notion that human beings are inherently moral creatures. While he does not argue for innate moral rules or standards, he does assert the presence of a (nearly) universal moral sense. This moral sense, he argues, is plainly reflected in the judgments passed on conduct and institutions by healthy-minded human beings in all cultures. Drawing on a broad spectrum of biological, psychological, and social science research, Wilson argues that this innate moral sense requires cultivation in a stable social setting, and especially...

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