Edgecliffe G03

Title: What do normative philosophers have to contribute to society? Abstract: Normative philosophers (inter alia, political theorists, moral philosophers, applied ethicists) develop arguments which link normative positions to practical (and theoretical) judgments or conclusions. This might sound anodyne, but I use it as a basis to explain what normative philosophers can add to policy discussions ... Read more

Title: “Invasive” Species and the Aesthetics of Nature Abstract: This talk explores the intersection of environmental science and environmental aesthetics, focusing on the discourse surrounding "invasive" species. I will present the ways that debates on invasive species reflect broader issues in the philosophy of science, particularly concerning the role of moral and political values in ... Read more

Title: How nonexistence is worse for us Abstract: I defend the view that, when a person’s life is worth living, her existence is not merely good for her. It is also better for her than her never existing. I defend this view against the objection that it absurdly implies that nonexistence is bad for the ... Read more

Title:  Against Excellence as the Norm of Ambition Abstract: This paper investigates norms of ambition, which set the level of achievement one ought to aspire to. I critically examine the widely accepted norm of excellence, which encourages one to seek excellence in one’s pursuits. I argue that while this norm is accepted by default, we ... Read more

Title: Moral Blackmail Abstract: Suppose I want you to do something. How can I make you do it? Depending on me, you, our context, and the nature of the thing I want you to do, I have various options: rational or emotional persuasion; manipulation; coercion; physical compulsion; maybe more. Different mechanisms will be more or ... Read more