On Moral Disgust

Why do we experience moral disgust? Some wrongs such as betrayal, exploitation, and abuse provoke instant revulsion. But is that gut feeling a reliable moral guide, or just a primitive reflex? This week we’re reading philosopher Brandon Yip’s take on the question. He argues that moral disgust responds to behavior that threatens to unravel a social order we’re attuned to. It can flag real wrongs, but it can also defend unjust norms, so we should neither obey it nor dismiss it, and instead ask what it’s guarding. Join us for a thoughtful discussion on moral disgust as we drink and dine at Twisted Vine in Fullerton. Some questions to consider: When have you felt moral disgust? What norm was being violated? Has a gut revulsion of yours ever turned out to be wrong, or right before you could say why? Is there a “wisdom” in repugnance, or is it better treated as a prompt to reason? How do we tell whether disgust protects something worth keeping? What other physical or enviornmental factors influence moral disgust? Suggested reading: https://psyche.co/ideas/when-you-feel-moral-disgust-whats-the-emotion-telling-you