Somerville, M. A. (2021).
Ethics & Behavior, 32(3), 226–240.
Abstract
This is a personal reflection on what I have learnt as an academic, researching, teaching and participating in the public square in Bioethics for over four decades. I describe a helix metaphor for understanding the evolution of values and the current “culture wars” between “progressive” and “conservative” values adherents, the uncertainty people’s “mixed values packages” engender, and disagreement in prioritizing individual rights and the “common good”. I propose, as a way forward, that individual and collective experiences of “amazement, wonder and awe” have the power to enrich our lives, help us to find meaning and sometimes to bridge the secular/religious divide and experience a shared moral universe. They can change our worldview, our decisions regarding values and ethics, and whether we live our lives mainly as just an individual – a “me” – or also as a member of a larger community – a “We”. I summarize in an equation – “The Wonder Equation” – what is necessary to reduce or resolve some current hostile values conflicts in order to facilitate such a transition. It will require revisiting and reaffirming the traditional values we still need as both individuals and societies and accommodating them with certain contemporary “progressive" values.
Here are some thoughts:
This article is a personal reflection on her decades of work in bioethics and a proposal for a novel approach to navigating contemporary ethical conflicts. Central to her argument is the idea that cultivating experiences of amazement, wonder, and awe (AWA)—especially when paired with healthy skepticism and free from cynicism and nihilism—can lead to deep gratitude and hope, which in turn inspire individuals and communities to act more ethically. She expresses this as a formula: AWA + S – (C + N) → G + H → E, which she calls “The Wonder Equation.” This equation suggests that rather than relying solely on rational analysis or ideological arguments, engaging our emotional and spiritual capacities can help restore a shared sense of moral responsibility.
For psychologists, Somerville’s work holds particular importance. First, it introduces a fresh lens for understanding moral motivation. Drawing on both personal anecdotes and recent empirical research, she argues that emotional states like awe and wonder are not only enriching but are also linked to prosocial behaviors such as compassion, empathy, and a sense of connectedness. This aligns with psychological studies that show how awe can reduce narcissism, increase well-being, and promote community-oriented values. Second, Somerville’s analysis of today’s “culture wars”—and her critique of rigid ideological divisions between “progressive” and conservative values—offers psychologists insight into how clients might experience internal value conflicts in an increasingly polarized world. Her concept of “mixed values packages” underscores the psychological reality that most people hold complex, sometimes contradictory beliefs, which calls for greater tolerance and openness in both therapy and society at large.
