Philosophy Speakers: “Is the Ledger Conception of Moral Responsibility Intelligible?”

Stefaan Cuypers is a full professor at the Institute of Philosophy and coordinator of the Centre for Logic and Analytical Philosophy at the University of Leuven (Belgium). His research focuses on free will and moral responsibility, philosophy of mind and action, philosophy of education and teaching, and theory of knowledge (epistemology). He is the author of Philosophy of Mind (Acco 2015), R. S. Peters (Bloomsberry 2013), co-author with Ish Haji of Moral Responsibility, Authenticity, and Education (Routledge 2008) and co-editor of Reasons of Love (Routledge 2013). His extensive publication record includes many articles in internationally reviewed academic journals. About the Talk Quite recently, the debate on moral responsibility started suffering from a proliferation of technical distinctions. The following by now well-known distinctions are causing trouble: (a) concept (or conceptions) and conditions of moral responsibility; (b) being and holding morally responsible; and (c) attributability, answerability, and accountability. Of course, it is a central task on a philosopher’s job list to make distinctions and to put them to use in order to elucidate matters. But the deployment of a heavy technical apparatus might also be a symptom of an unfruitful scholasticism and a stagnating research program. In Cuypers’ talk, his focus is on (a) and I try to connect this with (b). He proceed as follows. The Strawsonian and ledger conception of moral responsibility are first introduced. The ledger conception (of M. Zimmerman) is then detailed and contrasted with the Strawsonian one. Next, considerations are brought forward to indicate that the ledger conception is unintelligible. Finally, in the light of this result, quasi-ledger conceptions (e.g. A. Smith’s) in the contemporary debate are found wanting.
Location:
Social Sciences Tower Room 1253
Speaker:
Stefaan Cuypers, University of Leuven
More information at http://www.ucalgary.ca/events/calendar/philosophy-speakers-ledger-conception-moral-responsibility-intelligible