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I began graduate school in the late 1980s, and my goal was to understand how morality varied across cultures and nations. I did some research comparing moral judgment in India and the U.S.A.
Jonathan Haidt
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote reflects the author's pursuit of understanding the diversity of moral values across different cultures.

Jonathan Haidt's quote captures his academic journey into the exploration of morality as it manifests in various cultural contexts. By comparing moral judgments in India and the U.S.A., he emphasizes the importance of recognizing and understanding how ethical standards can differ significantly depending on cultural backgrounds, highlighting the complexity of moral psychology and its implications for global discourse.

Themes

MoralityCultureEthicsJudgmentResearch

In practice

Example use cases

In a lecture on cultural ethics, this quote can serve to discuss the importance of understanding moral diversity.

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Trying to run Congress without human relationships is like trying to run a car without motor oil. Should we be surprised when the whole thing freezes up?
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When you hear someone criticize a policy on the other side, that's fine. But when you start hearing motive-mongering and demonization, stand up to it just as you would if it were something that was racist or sexist. If we avoid the demonization, disagreements can be positive.
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