Big Picture Theories of Normative Ethics
Can we provide a general account of how we ought to live?
Main content
Academic philosophy focuses more and more on narrow aspects of our practical lives, or highly specific questions of detail. We want to ask the bigger question again: Can we provide a general account of how we ought to live? Traditional normative theories – like consequentialism, contractualism or virtue ethics – seem to have well-known shortcomings, and surely don't exhaust the space of possible views. So this workshop brings together people that explore novel big picture theories, or defend a traditional one - or argue that the search for the big picture is misguided.
The workshop is open to all.
Presenters
Sophie Grace Chappell (Open University)
Roger Crisp (Oxford University)
Adam Lovett (Australian Catholic University)
David Owens (Kings College London)
Stefan Riedener (University of Bergen)
Quinn White (Harvard University).
Program
08:30-09:00 Coffee and mingling
09:00-09:10 Opening remarks
09:10-10:25 Quinn White (Harvard University): Imperfect Ethics [presentation]
10:25-10:40 Break
10:40-11:40 David Owens (King’s College London): The Fragmentation of Justice and the Direction of History [preread]
11:40-13:00 Lunch at Daily Pot (Vaskerelven 21)
13:00-14:15 Roger Crisp (University of Oxford): Reasons and Value [presentation]
14:15-14:30 Break
14:30-15:45 Sophie Grace Chappell (Open University): Can Epiphanies Be Taught? [presentation]
15:45-16:00 Break
16:00-17:15 Adam Lovett (Australian Catholic University) and Stefan Riedener (University of Bergen): Touching the Good [presentation]
followed by Drinks
18:30 Dinner at Restaurant Mandalay (Nedre Korskirkeallmenningen 5)
