Idorenyin Francis ESIKOT, Ph.D., & Emem Fabian ETUKUDOH
Abstract
The question of how people make moral decisions has a long history in philosophy. In large part, the
debate has centred around two opposing schools of thought – one arguing that people arrive at moral
decisions in rational ways and the other argues that people arrive at moral decisions in emotional ways.
While moral decisions are often considered to be rational and logical, emotions play a significant role in
shaping our choices. Understanding the interplay between emotion and rationality is crucial for making
moral decisions. There is a growing interest in philosophy in relation to the role that emotion plays in
moral judgment and decision-making. Previous philosophical writings on the subject of moral decision-making have exalted the role of rationality with little concern given to the role that emotions play in the
process. This seems to undermine and calls to question the power or place of emotion in moral decision-making processes. Thus, this paper aims to critically evaluate the role that emotions play in moral decision-making. The paper employs critical and analytical methods as useful tools of philosophical
investigation to carry out its stated objective. The paper concluded that emotions are integral in the moral
decision-making processes, and this is what distinguishes human beings from machines.
Keywords: Emotion, Decision, Decision-making
