How can we explain kindness and cruelty? Where does our sense of right and wrong come from? Why do people so often disagree about moral issues? This course explores the psychological foundations of our moral lives.
Offered By
Yale University
About this Course
15,745 recent views
Skills you will gain
PhilosophyPsychologySocial PsychologyMoral Universe
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
11 hour to complete
Welcome to Moralities of Everyday Life!
1 video (Total 23 min), 3 readings
1 video
3 readings
Meet your instructors!10m
Course resources10m
Pre-Course Survey10m
5 hours to complete
The Big Questions
What is morality, anyway? What are the big debates in the field of moral psychology?
9 videos (Total 157 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
9 videos
Philosophical Approaches20m
Reason vs. Emotions15m
The Case of Disgust14m
Cute and Sexy9m
Return to the Trolley Problem6m
The Big Questions13m
Week 1 Office Hours (2015)31m
Week 1 Office Hours (2014)26m
1 reading
Week 1 Readings1h 30m
1 practice exercise
Week 1 Quiz40m
Week
23 hours to complete
Compassion
Where does concern for others come from? How is it related to empathy—and is more empathy necessarily a good thing? And what can we learn from the study of those who seemingly lack normal moral feelings, such as violent psychopaths?
6 videos (Total 154 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
6 videos
How Do We Treat Strangers?22m
Empathy and Concern27m
Empathy and its Limits16m
Week 2 Office Hours (2015)50m
Week 2 Office Hours (2014)28m
1 reading
Week 2 Readings10m
1 practice exercise
Week 2 Quiz40m
Week
35 hours to complete
Origins of Morality
Here, we ask about which aspects of morality are universal. We discuss evolution, cross-cultural research, and the fascinating new science of the moral life of babies.
10 videos (Total 269 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
10 videos
Moral Universals13m
Evolution of Morality20m
Reciprocal Altruism18m
Guest Lecture, Laurie Santos1h 10m
Development of Morality18m
How Much Can Evolution Explain?6m
Discussion with Laurie Santos28m
Week 3 Office Hours (2015)50m
Week 3 Office Hours (2014)33m
1 reading
Week 3 Readings10m
1 practice exercise
Week 3 Quiz40m
Week
44 hours to complete
Differences
How does culture influence our moral thought and moral action? What role does religion play? Why are some of us conservative and others liberal, and how do political differences influence our sense of right and wrong?
9 videos (Total 182 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
9 videos
Kinds of Societies17m
Conservatives and Liberals18m
Disgust and Honor I19m
Disgust and Honor II15m
Religion and Morality I13m
Religion and Morality II19m
Week 4 Office Hours (2015)42m
Week 4 Office Hours (2014)27m
1 reading
Week 4 Readings10m
1 practice exercise
Week 4 Quiz40m
4.8
181 Reviews17%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
Top reviews from Moralities of Everyday Life
Coming from undergraduate course Psychology, and with my paper about Generosity, this course has shared with me lessons that both strengthened and challenged my learnings on this topic of interest.
Great teacher, eloquent and a good story teller. Very interesting material, current and classic. Good pace, and just the right amount of interactive questions and personal commenting opportunity.
Instructor
Paul Bloom
Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Science at Yale UniversityPsychology
About Yale University
For more than 300 years, Yale University has inspired the minds that inspire the world. Based in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale brings people and ideas together for positive impact around the globe. A research university that focuses on students and encourages learning as an essential way of life, Yale is a place for connection, creativity, and innovation among cultures and across disciplines.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
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