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    The Role of Aesthetic Competence for Moral Discernment
    Philosophy in the Contemporary World 13 (1): 34-40. 2006.
    The inclination to wrongfully harm others in the name of morality is a paradoxical behavior associated with much human misery, from suicide bombings to civil liberty violations. In this paper I argue that aesthetic competence plays a remedial role for moral self-deception. Consequently, aesthetic competence ought to be added to curriculum objectives for moral education and characterdevelopment. Since artists are by definition aesthetically astute perceivers and since their works are fairly acces…Read more
  •  15
    Why Aren't Moral People Always Moral?
    Philosophy in the Contemporary World 9 (1): 89-95. 2002.
    In order to reduce internal dissonance and emotional pain, the personality plays a causal role in confabulating consistency among our beliefs, values and actions. To the extent that we are unaware of our own moral ''blind spots," a prima facie duty to engage in self-knowledge exists. Only then can we reduce injustices incurring from moral arrogance.