•  23
    In a task requiring speeded bidirectional responses to arrow symbols , “free choice” responses to interspersed bidirectional stimuli are influenced by masked directional primes . By varying stimulus–response compatibility, we tested whether this priming effect is mediated by the conscious instructional set, or instead by pre-existing directional associations to the symbols. In two experiments, one group of participants was instructed to respond with the hand consistent with the implied direction…Read more
  •  22
    An Emotocentric Theory of Interests
    Environmental Ethics 20 (2): 163-182. 1998.
    It is plausible to hold that ethical obligations are concerned with bringing about the existence of things that have value, where something is of value if and only if it is in the interest of some entity. Here the notion of an interest may be defined as whatever contributes to the well-being of a morally significant entity. I argue that interests are limited to individuals with the capacity for affective response. After briefly distinguishing between various different types of value, I defend th…Read more
  •  9
    An Interest-Satisfaction Theory of Value
    Ethics and the Environment 3 (1). 1998.
    In this paper, I argue that all value is rooted in the interests of valuing beings. If something satisfies an interest of a valuing entity by contributing to its well-being in some way, then it has value. Anything that fails to satisfy any interests is entirely lacking in value. I defend this conception of value by showing that the usual arguments directed against this kind of view are lacking of force, and by considering various other theories of value and showing that they suffer from serious …Read more
  • Value in Nature: Grounding Our Moral Obligations
    Dissertation, University of Georgia. 1997.
    In this work, I defend an ethical framework intended to guide individual behavior and public policy decisions in a way that recognizes the many diverse values present in the natural environment in which we live. In my view, ethical theory is properly concerned with providing principles or norms of right action, where the essence of right action is the promotion of value. On this conception of ethics, a great deal of importance is placed on axiological claims detailing what sorts of things have v…Read more
  • An Emotocentric Theory of Interests
    Environmental Ethics 20 (2): 163-182. 1998.
    It is plausible to hold that ethical obligations are concerned with bringing about the existence of things that have value, where something is of value if and only if it is in the interest of some entity. Here the notion of an interest may be defined as whatever contributes to the well-being of a morally significant entity. I argue that interests are limited to individuals with the capacity for affective response. After briefly distinguishing between various different types of value, I defend th…Read more
  • Negative priming in target localization
    with K. M. la ValdesTerry
    Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society 30 (6): 459-459. 1992.