The Affective-Ethical Model of Conceptual Engineering: How Emotions and Values Shape Concepts

Abstract. This paper contributes to the interdisciplinary dialogue between philosophy, ethics, and social sciences by developing the Affective-Ethical Model of Conceptual Engineering (AEMCE). This model fills a problematic gap in conceptual engineering (CE) by preempting affective and moral aspects of societal constructs. While normative CE attempts to bring concepts in line with a moral and societal purpose, it often does not consider the negative effects that emotionally loaded concepts can have on individuals, including harm, marginalization, or empowerment. The AEMCE is a methodological synthesis of hard philosophical argumentations of high empirical validation, which is guided by the Affective Performance Test (APT). The hybrid instrument presented here offers both quantitative and qualitative data, which makes it possible to measure emotional involvement and reduce harm in various settings and groups. The methodological framework is arranged in four circles of repetitive phases, i.e., diagnosis, design, circulation, and evaluation, which are arranged in such a way as to warrant the continuity of ethical accountability alongside perpetual conceptual revision and metamorphosis. Empirical findings of a pilot application of the topic of stigmatized labeling of illegitimate children in Algeria support the ability of the model to transform harmful categories into language-neutral, socially inclusive terms. The results indicate that AEMCE fosters linguistic equity, social cohesiveness, and conceptual change with the help of emotional intelligence.