Deontic Pluralism
Prof. Maggie Little
Fall 2008
420 Healy Hall
202-687-2312
Many moral theorists have tended to focus on the thinnest possible assessments of action —on what is permissible or impermissible, required or forbidden. While such categories are important, exclusive focus on them tends to obscure some of the most important categories we use to navigate the moral life: What is it morally decent to do? Is there a difference between having an obligation and a responsibility to do something, or again, between being entitled to some help and deserving it? In this seminar, we will be building an approach to ethics that endorses the need for a pluralism of deontic categories, some animated primarily from the first-personal perspective, others animated from considerations about how we can hold one another responsible.
Sept. 11 Value
Driver, “The Suberogatory”
Anderson, Value in Ethics & Economics, selection
Sept. 18 Claims, Rights, & Wrongs
Werner, “Rights”
Feinberg, “Claims & Rights”
Sept. 25 Gratitude, Blame, & Forgiveness
Strawson, “Freedom & Resentment”
Card, “Gratitude”
Scanlon, Moral Dimensions, selection
(Oct. 29 Short paper due)
Oct. 2 Shoulds & Musts: Demands, Recommendations, & Requests
Pink, “Moral Obligation”
Wolf, “Moral Obligations and Social Demands?
Dancy, “Enticing Reasons”
Little & Macnamara, “Between the Optional & the Obligatory”
Oct. 9 Exclusionary Reasons
Raz, selection
Owens, “Rationalism about Obligation”
Oct. 16 Imperfect Duties
O’Neil, “The Great Maxims of Justice & Charity”
Herman, “Moral Requirements”
Oct. 23 Supererogation
Urmson, “Saints & Heroes”
Little & Macnamara
Oct. 30 Class cancelled
Individual paper meetings this week
Nov. 6 Intensions & Moral Assessment
Scanlon, Moral Dimensions, selection
Parfit, selection
Nov. 13 Relational Oughts
Darwall, “Moral Obligation”
Thompson, “What Is It to Wrong Someone?”, selection
Nov. 20 Holding Others Responsible
Macnamara, “Towards a Theory of Holding Responsible”
Watson, “Two Faces of Responsibility”
Waldron, “The Right to Do Wrong”
Nov. 27 No Class -- Thanksgiving
Dec. 4 Moral Status?