US politics seems to be one long attempt to disprove Moral Foundations theory. A sector of the electorate might claim to have an unshakable abhorrence of incest, say, or abortion – founded on a visceral reaction, not merely reasoned out from ethical axioms – but then when the wife of a favoured politician turns out to have had an abortion, or an alll-condemning moral spokesman turns out to have finger-raped his sisters, those voters are all “Oh never mind, God has forgiven.” And in the UK, Cameron’s supporters will believe whatever excuses or denials are made on his behalf, in order to go on supporting him.
Moral Foundation theory is what happens if you forget all about cognitive dissonance, and believe every nimrods’ and barmpots’ protestations of their moral superiority.
