Diana Chiciorea – Stiinte Cognitive, an III

The Emotional Dog and its Rational Tail: A Social Intuitionist

Approach to Moral Judgment
Jonathan Haidt

The thesis presented in Jonathan Haidt's "The Emotional Dog and its Rational Tail: A Social Intuitionist
Approach to Moral Judgment" challenges the traditional rationalist models in moral psychology. Haidt
proposes the social intuitionist model, considering that moral judgments are primarily the result of quick,
automatic evaluations or intuitions and not the outcome of deliberate moral reasoning. This paper explores
its implications for understanding moral psychology.

Haidt’s paper asserts that moral reasoning is often a post-hoc construction, a kind of rationalisation that
follows an intuitive moral judgment. This idea turns the traditional view of moral reasoning as the precursor
to moral judgment on its head. According to Haidt, our moral decisions are not the product of conscious,
rational deliberation but are immediate responses from our intuitions. Because of this process, we can justify
our rationament, especially when we must articulate or defend our moral positions to others.

The social intuitionist model is underpinned by four principal links: intuitive judgment, post-hoc reasoning,
reasoned persuasion, and social persuasion. The first, intuitive judgment, suggests that moral judgments
occur spontaneously and are driven by innate intuitions. The second, post-hoc reasoning, involves generating
reasons to support an intuitive judgment already made. The third, reasoned persuasion, denotes the use of
moral reasoning to influence the intuitions and judgments of others. Finally, social persuasion emphasises the
impact of the moral judgments of others on an individual's moral stance.

Speaking about the practical implications of Haidt's theory, it's quite evident the question of how this might
shift our approach to moral education and discussions. Instead of just exploring the importance of logical
reasoning in moral dilemmas, there might be more value in tuning into our gut feelings and understanding
the social vibes that shape these feelings. Instead of just teaching kids to think through moral problems, we
should also be helping them develop a good moral 'intuition' and be more aware of how the people around
them influence their sense of right and wrong. We're not just thinking beings regarding morality but also
feeling and social beings.