Better Minds, Better Morals: A Procedural Guide to Better Judgment

Abstract

Making more moral decisionsan uncontroversial goal, if ever there was one. But how are we to go about it? In this article, we offer a practical guide on ways to promote good judgment in our personal and professional lives. We do this not by outlining what the good life consists in or which values we should accept. We must all decide for ourselves what is good and bad, right and wrong. Rather, we offer a theory ofprocedural reliability: a set of dimensions of thought that are generally conducive to good moral reasoning. The best way to ensure that we make the right choices is to ensure that the procedures we are employing are sound and reliable. We identify four broad categories of judgment to be targetedcognitive, self-management, motivational, and interpersonal. Specific factors within each category are further delineated, with a total of fourteen factors to be discussed. For each, we will go through the reasons it generally leads to more morally reliable decision making, how various thinkers have historically addressed the topic, and the insights of recent research that can offer new ways to promote good reasoning. The result is a wide-ranging survey that contains practical advice on how to make better choices. Finally, we relate this to the project of transhumanism and prudential decision making. We argue that transhumans will employ better moral procedures. We also argue that the same virtues will enable us to take better control of our own lives, enhancing our responsibility and enabling us to lead better lives from a prudential perspective.