French Literature Reviews - 2026
V. Nurock, Are We Naturally Moral?
Philosophy, Anthropology and Ideas
Are We Naturally Moral?
By Vanessa Nurock
Published: September 28, 2011
Publisher: PUF
Series: Fondements de la politique
ISBN: 978-2-13-057076-9
EAN: 9782130570769
Page count: 292 pages
Publisher price: 26.00€
How do we make moral judgments? While these questions are certainly not new, we are now better equipped to address them from a fresh perspective—provided we evaluate both the limitations and the possibilities opened up by a fruitful interaction between philosophy and certain empirical sciences, foremost among them psychology and cognitive science.
This book opens up a wide range of perspectives, spanning from classical moral philosophy to pressing contemporary practical issues concerning animal ethics, the definition of moral disorders, and the potential transformations of our moral frameworks.
Table of Contents:
POWER AND OBLIGATION
Is ethics soluble in cultural diversity? Why naturalize morality: the principle of humanity and the principle of demand
The limits of the naturalization of morality: toward a moderate naturalization of ethics
OBLIGATION AND POWER
The moral sense
The naïve morality hypothesis
Does he lack a moral sense?
The Author:
Vanessa Nurock is a member of the Contemporary Philosophies research team (Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne) and Associate Professor of Ethics in the Department of Philosophy at Université Montpellier III.
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An article about this book can be read on the laviedesidees.fr website:
"Is the Good Truly Natural?", by S. Chavel.
"Where does the moral sense come from? From an innate predisposition or from culture? Moving far beyond any reductionism, Vanessa Nurock offers a reflection on the natural origins of ethics, supported by both the history of philosophy and an examination of empirical research in psychology and cognitive science."
And on nonfiction.fr:
Questions concerning the origins of morality and the basis of moral judgment have long occupied thinkers across various traditions. Within contemporary philosophical inquiry, the debate often engages with questions about human nature, cultural diversity, and the extent to which ethical behavior can be understood through empirical observation. Vanessa Nurock explores these themes by considering how philosophy might productively interact with disciplines such as psychology and cognitive science, navigating the terrain between innate predispositions and cultural influences.
Readers interested in the intersection of ethics, cognitive science, and contemporary practical issues such as animal ethics and moral psychology may find this study relevant. The volume addresses topics ranging from the foundations of obligation to the limits of naturalizing ethics, drawing on both historical philosophical texts and modern empirical research. The work features sections on power and obligation, the moral sense, and the naïve morality hypothesis, engaging with both classical moral philosophy and pressing contemporary practical issues.