Moral Decision Making and Utility Theory

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 40 Sayı: 2, 528 - 548, 04.06.2025

Banu Özüşen

https://doi.org/10.24988/ije.1503031

Öz

Developments in neuroscience make significant contributions to the field of behavioral economics. It offers a versatile perspective, especially in understanding the neural foundations of the utilitarian approach. Utilitarianism in moral philosophy is about increasing pleasure and reducing pain. In this approach, actions that will increase the pleasure of the whole society and living creatures draw the boundaries of utilitarianism. In standard economic theories, it is an assumption that individuals maximize utility. At this point, utilitarianism differs in moral philosophy and economics at two important points. First, classic economic theories only address the benefit maximization of individuals and ignore society and other living things. Secondly, the distinction between individuals' rational or irrational choices is not clearly defined in economic theories. However, this differentiation does not mean that economic science does not adopt utilitarianism in moral philosophy. It is treated as an assumption only to explain theories. Today, information from psychology and neuroscience is needed to explain rational and irrational choices. This study evaluates research on moral choice in brain sciences, from moral philosophy to behavioral economics, within the framework of utility theory. Attention is drawn to the mutual relationship between utilitarian thought and scientific disciplines. discusses the convergence of utilitarianism between philosophical thought and neuroscience at the center of non-moral choice. The aim of the study is to contribute to behavioral economics.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Decision Making , Utilitarianism , Conscience , Brain , Crime

Ahlaki Karar Verme ve Fayda Teorisi

Öz

Nörobilimdeki gelişmeler davranışsal iktisadın çalışma alanına önemli katkılarda bulunmaktadır. Özellikle uzun yıllardır araştırılan faydacılık yaklaşımının sinirsel temellerini kavramada çok yönlü bakış açısı sunmaktadır. Faydacılık, ahlak felsefesinde hazzı arttırma ve acıyı azaltma üzerinedir. Bu yaklaşımda tüm toplumun ve canlıların hazzını arttıracak eylemler faydacılığın sınırlarını çizmektedir. Standart ekonomik teorilerde ise bireylerin faydayı maksimuma çıkarması bir varsayım altında yer almaktadır. Bu noktada faydacılık ahlak felsefesi ile iktisat biliminde iki bağlamda farklılaşmaktadır. İlk olarak klasik iktisat teorileri sadece bireylerin fayda maksimizasyonunu ele alırken toplumu ve diğer canlıları göz ardı etmektedir. İkinci olarak bireylerin rasyonel ya da irrasyonel seçimlerinin ayrımı iktisat teorilerinde kesin çizgilerle belirlenmemektedir. Ancak bu farklılaşma iktisat biliminin ahlak felsefesindeki faydacılığı benimsemediği anlamına gelmemektedir. Günümüzde rasyonel ve irrasyonel seçimleri açıklayabilmek için psikoloji ve nörobilimden gelecek bilgilere ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır. Bu çalışma, ahlak felsefesinden davranışsal iktisada, beyni konu alan bilimlerin ahlaki seçim üzerine araştırmalarını fayda teorisi çerçevesinde değerlendirmektedir. Faydacı düşünce ile bilimsel disiplinler arasında karşılıklı ilişkiye dikkat çekilerek, faydacılığın felsefi düşünce ile nörobilim arasındaki yakınlaşmasını, ahlaki olmayan seçim merkezinde ele almaktadır. Çalışma ile davranışsal iktisada katkı sunulması amaçlanmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Karar Verme , Faydacılık , Vicdan , Beyin , Suç

Kaynakça

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