"The Sheriff in Our Minds: The Morality of the Mental" by Samuel Director
 

The Sheriff in Our Minds: The Morality of the Mental

DOI

10.26556/jesp.v22i3.1308

Abstract

Many people believe that our thoughts can be morally wrong. For example, many regard rape and murder fantasies as morally wrong. In a provocative recent essay, George Sher disagrees with this and argues that “the realm of the purely mental is best regarded as a morality-free zone,” wherein “no thoughts or attitudes are either forbidden or required” (2). Ultimately, Sher argues that “each person’s subjectivity is a limitless, lawless wild west in which absolutely everything is permitted” (2). Sher calls this view the Wild West of the Mind.

I argue against Sher’s position. In section I, I summarize Sher’s view. In section II, I criticize Sher’s argument for the Wild West of the Mind. In section III, I outline additional objections to Sher’s view.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-19-2022

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2022, Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26556/jesp.v22i3.1308

The definitive version is available at: https://www.jesp.org/index.php/jesp/article/view/1308

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