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Articles

Justice and Biology, Revisited

Is there a link between biology and ethical behaviour? Alexander E. Hooke takes a look at phrenology and other theories from down the ages. This article is dedicated to Bill Connolly.

In 1828, English barrister George Combe wrote, “In [phrenology's] view, morality becomes a science, and departures from its dictates may be demonstrated as practical follies, injurious to the real interest and happiness of the individual, just as errors in logic are capable of refutation to the satisfaction of the understanding.”

In 1998, American philosopher Paul Churchland contended, “At least some failures of moral character, therefore, and especially the most serious failures, are likely to involve some confounding disability or marginality at the level of brain structure and/or physiological activity.”

The same point, only expressed in different words? Or two perspectives whose resemblance belies two contrary truths, since they emerge from different – and incompatible – paradigms? It is tempting to detach ourselves from these historical and scientific debates. Without the expertise for the intricacies of cranial faculties or the billions of brain synapses that determine the success and failure of perception and cognition, most of us likely prefer a more conventional focus on exemplars, self-reflection, sacred texts, or the lessons of hard knocks.

Yet the promises of these biological efforts extend beyond scientific inquiries.

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