CEPPA Talk (online only) – Tyler Cowen (George Mason University)

Location: Teams (online only) Title: The Philosophy of Effective Altruism Abstract: What are the strengths and weaknesses of Effective Altruism as both a moral philosophy and practical guide to action? Is it best thought of as an optimizing approach? How important is existential risk, especially relative to maximizing economic growth? How does the new form of ... Read more

CEPPA Talk (online only) – Lea Ypi (LSE)

Location: Teams (online only) Title: Kant the Racist? Abstract: This paper examines Kant’s thoughts on race considering his analysis of teleology. It explains how Kant analysed the development of human races in connection to his account of the development of "germs" and "dispositions" in the human species. It further explains how that theory changed with ... Read more

CEPPA Talk (in person) – Christoph Schuringa (Northeastern University London)

Location: Edgecliffe G03 Title: Karl Marx and the Actualization of Philosophy Abstract: Marx’s Eleventh Thesis on Feuerbach famously states that ‘The philosophers have thus far merely interpreted the world; the point is to change it.’ In this talk, I begin to clear away some obstacles that stand in the way of an appreciation of the ... Read more

CEPPA Talk (in person) – Sigrún Svavarsdóttir (Tufts)

Location: Edgecliffe G03 Title: “On Seeking Objective Grounds for Moral Evaluation” Abstract: The paper argues that to do justice to questions of objectivity that arise within and about moral discourse, we must take into account that this discourse is embedded within a somewhat conventionally regimented practice that comprises attempts to guide attitude and action by ... Read more

CEPPA Talk (online only) – Edwin Etieyibo (University of the Witwatersrand)

Location: Teams (online only) Title: Disharmony as a Political Vice Abstract: In this presentation, I examine two important concepts, those of harmony and disharmony by drawing on some thoughts including in three areas of African philosophical ideas and understanding. While I take harmony as virtuous or at least valuable or desirable, I take disharmony as ... Read more

CEPPA Talk (online only) – Catherine Elgin (Harvard)

Location: Teams (online only) Title: Epistemic Dynamics Abstract: Epistemic agents are finite and fallible.  Our range is limited and some of what we accept is, no doubt, flawed.  To achieve our epistemic and practical objectives, we devise methods and practices that foster correction, refinement, and expansion of our current epistemic commitments. Traditional epistemology maintains that epistemic ... Read more

Special MPRG: Mattia Cecchinato

Location: Edgecliffe G03 Title: "The Mind that Matters: Degrees of Sentience and Moral Status". Abstract: It is often argued that the capacity for conscious experience is necessary for a creature to morally matter for its own sake and thus have moral status. Entities that lack the capacity for consciousness, such as chairs, philosophical zombies, or anencephalic infants, ... Read more

CEPPA Talk (in person) – Daniel Muñoz (UNC Chapel Hill)

Location: Edgecliffe G03 Title: Values as Vectors Abstract: Often, two things seem tied in value, though slightly improving one would not break the tie. How can we model such 'insensitivity to sweetening'? A leading answer is that overall values, rather than being like precise numbers, must be imprecise, giving rise to a special nontransitive value ... Read more

5th Annual CEPPA Graduate Conference (St Andrews) – 30-31 May, 2023

5th Annual CEPPA Graduate Conference  30-31 May, 2023, at the University of St Andrews  The Centre for Ethics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs (CEPPA) is proud to host the 5th Annual CEPPA Graduate Conference at the University of St Andrews (UCO: School V). The event will be held in-person with the option for spectators to join online. Registration will open once ... Read more