Amorality is an absence of, indifference towards, or disregard for moral beliefs.[1][2][3] Any entity that is not sentient may be considered amoral. In addition, it can be argued that sentient but non-human creatures, like dogs, have no concept of morality and are therefore amoral. Even some humans may be considered amoral, including newborn babies or persons with cognitive disorders (perhaps, for example, those diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder). Some philosophers argue further that rational human adults may even be able to choose to be amoral; i.e., humans may discard codes or systems of morality that have been purely socially constructed by their native cultures. Much of this argument revolves around the definition of morality in terms of its universality in human beings. If a rational human being can in any way override a (possibly inborn) capacity to establish notions of right and wrong, it is arguable that human beings have the ability to become amoral. Amoral should not be confused with immoral, which refers to the intentional doing or thinking of doing what oneself knows (or believes) to be wrong.
Non-human entities[]
Corporations exhibit qualities that are considered amoral according to some ethical theories, but can also be called immoral on the basis of different means of examination.[4]
See also[]
- Antisocial behavior
- Apathy
- Irreligion
- Moral nihilism (amoralism)
- Psychopathy
- Sociopathy
References[]
- ↑ Johnstone, Megan-Jane (2008). Bioethics: A Nursing Perspective, 102–103, Elsevier Health Sciences.
- ↑ Superson, Anita (2009). The Moral Skeptic, 127–159, Oxford University Press.
- ↑ Amorality. Dictionary.com. URL accessed on 2010-06-18.
- ↑ Donaldson, Thomas (1982). Corporations and morality, 78, Prentice-Hall.
External links[]
- Definition of amorality at Dictionary.com