How Morality Changes in a Foreign Language

[Why does it matter whether we judge morality in our native language or a foreign one? According to one explanation, such judgments involve two separate and competing modes of thinking—one of these, a quick, gut-level “feeling,” and the other, careful deliberation about the greatest good for the greatest number. When we use a foreign language, we unconsciously sink into the more deliberate mode simply because the effort of operating in our non-native language cues our cognitive system to prepare for strenuous activity. This may seem paradoxical, but is in line with findings that reading math problems in a hard-to-read font makes people less likely to make careless mistakes.]

Read the full story | Scientific American

 

Neurophilosophy | How Goalkeepers Can Use an Illusion to Save Penalty Kicks

This interplay between action and perception happens subconsciously, and so we have little or no control over it. But could players also influence their opponent’s actions by deliberately altering their perceptions? The answer seems to be “yes” – according to a small study published in 2008, goalkeepers can influence the direction and accuracy of penalty kicks by adopting a posture that mimics a classic optical illusion.

Read the full article here | The Guardian