Neural Responses to Facial Attractiveness in the Judgments of Moral Goodness and Moral Beauty

The judgments of moral goodness and moral beauty objectively refer to the perception and evaluation of moral traits, which are generally influenced by facial attractiveness. For centuries, people have equated beauty with the possession of positive qualities, but it is not clear whether the association between beauty and positive qualities exerts a similarly implicit influence on people`s responses to moral goodness and moral beauty, how it affects those responses, and what is the neural basis for such an effect. The present study is the first to examine the neural responses to facial attractiveness in the judgments of moral goodness and moral beauty. We found that beautiful faces in both moral judgments activated the left ventral occipitotemporal cortices sensitive to the geometric configuration of the faces, demonstrating that both moral goodness and moral beauty required the automatic visual analysis of geometrical configuration of attractive faces. In addition, compared to beautiful faces during moral goodness judgment, beautiful faces during moral beauty judgment induced unique activity in the ventral medial prefrontal cortex and midline cortical structures involved in the emotional-valenced information about attractive faces. The opposite comparison elicited specific activity in the left superior temporal cortex and premotor area, which play a critical role in the recognition of facial identity. Our results demonstrated that the neural responses to facial attractiveness in the process of higher order moral decision-makings exhibits both task-general and task-specific characteristics. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the essence of the relationship between morality and aesthetics.

Uralsky, M. (2019). Mark Aldanov. A writer, a public figure and a gentleman of Russian emigration. Prefaced by S. Pesterev and S. Garciano. St. Petersburg: Aleteya. (In Russ.)

This first biographical account of M. Aldanov was authored by M. Uralsky, a writer of documentary prose. While not a strict academic publication, the book shows a thorough approach to selection of the material and verification of facts and introduces hitherto unknown documents, thus qualifying as a compelling piece of scholarly research. The book’s three parts are dedicated to key periods of Aldanov’s life: ‘A young Aldanov — happy years’ (1886–1917), ‘A historical novelist of Russian emigration’ (1919–1940), and ‘The twilight of life and work’ (1947–1957). Uralsky uncovered a number of new materials relating to Aldanov’s childhood and adolescence and his work in emigration, completing a reconstruction of the writer’s life. The biographer examines Aldanov’s personality as an artist, a literary critic, a journalist and a scholar. The book’s leitmotif is to actualise Aldanov’s idea of writers dedicating themselves to kalokagathia — the ‘moral beauty.’

Moral beauty during the COVID-19 pandemic

In this study, we examined whether adolescents and young adults help others during the COVID-19 pandemic and how stories in the media can inspire them in doing so. For this online daily diary study, 481 adolescents (M = 15.29, SD = 1.76) and 404 young adults (M = 21.48, SD = 1.91) were followed for two weeks. Findings of linear mixed effects models demonstrated that feelings of being moved by stories portraying moral beauty were related to giving emotional support to family and friends and to helping others, including strangers. Exposure to COVID-19 news was found to spark supporting and helping as well, and keeping physical distance in line with the advised protective behaviors against COVID-19. Moreover, supporting and helping others were related to happiness. Altogether, findings of this study highlight the potential role of media in helping people to bond together in times of crisis.

Why Does Anyone Believe?

To believe Christianity’s surprising story would require considerable convincing. Not surprisingly, lots of different Christians believe for lots of different reasons. This chapter rounds up under a handful of headings the main reasons why Christianity has attracted and retained the adherence of two billion people across the globe. And not every believer relies on every one of these arguments, of course. This chapter surveys the chief grounds of Christian faith—from historical evidence to philosophical argumentation, and from moral beauty to mystical experience.

CHARITY – A LESSON ON HUMANITY AND KINDNESS

This article describes good practices and initiatives of the club „Give a hand“ to the First Primary School „St. Cyril and St. Methodius“, Gotse Delchev, related to volunteering and charity. Charity and volunteering are a social responsibility, because every helping hand is a sign of good hope. Volunteering is an integral part of charity and will instil in your child discipline and a sense of responsibility. Daily charity is something that helps people look beyond their own world. In this way, people and the nation as a whole grow. For the students and pedagogical specialists of the First Primary School „St. Cyril and St. Methodius“, charity is a generosity that creates moral beauty. The collective charity we all strive for as a team brings emotional and physical benefits to all. She develops communication skills, organization, time management, teamwork, and valuable knowledge.