MORAL DILEMMAS, MORAL JUDGMENT AND VENTROMEDIAL PREFRONTAL CORTEX

Empirical research on neurological phenomena has become, in recent years, a relevant point when we analyze moral concepts. This article analyzes the role of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in the production of moral judgments. Two investigations with patients with damage to the cortex are analyzed and it is argued that the interpretation of the results is not appropriate. This paper proposes, first, a difference between personal and impersonal dilemmas based on the possibility of using a person as a means. Secondly, it is proposed that the abnormality in response to dilemmas in patients with damage to the cortex is not an option for utilitarianism, but a random answer. With these two elements, the interpretation of the results is consistent.