Abstract:
Psychopaths are renowned for their immoral behavior. They are ideal candidates
for testing the empirical plausibility of moral theories. Many think the
source of their immorality is their emotional deficits. Psychopaths experience
no guilt or remorse, feel no empathy, and appear to be perfectly rational.
If this is true, sentimentalism is supported over rationalism. Here, I examine
the nature of psychopathic practical reason and argue that it is impaired.
The relevance to morality is discussed. I conclude that rationalists can
explain the moral deficits of psychopaths as well as sentimentalists. In
the process, I identify psychological structures that underpin practical
rationality.