scholarly journals Is R. Rorty’s Moral Philosophy Possible? Antifoundationalism and Kant’s Criticism

Problemos ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 96 ◽  
pp. 36-47
Author(s):  
Agnė Alijauskaitė
Keyword(s):  
Moral Philosophy ◽  
Moral Identity ◽  
Theoretical Concept ◽  
Moral Knowledge ◽  
Main Question ◽  
Historical Progress ◽  
Key Points ◽  
Moral Domain

This article aims to answer the main question raised – is Rorty’s moral philosophy possible? To what extent is it possible to treat it as an authentic theory? Rorty’s criticism of Kant and the Kantians, as one of the key points of contemporary moral philosophy, determines the posture in the moral domain and provides a certain place in discourse. The article states that, despite the fact that Rorty’s moral philosophy is not based on a particular theoretical concept, it can be considered as a fragmented whole consisting of several parts, one of which is the agent’s openness to the choice of moral identity. At the same time, we will critically question the position of Rorty himself – while maintaining the suspicion towards the sources of moral knowledge, he maintains an insufficient distance with one of his own sources of moral knowledge, namely historical progress.

Die Wirklichkeit des Sittlichen

2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Kersting
Keyword(s):  
Social Environment ◽  
Moral Philosophy ◽  
Discourse Ethics ◽  
Moral Knowledge ◽  
Moral Principle ◽  
Pure Reason ◽  
Kantian Ethics ◽  
Hermeneutic Approach ◽  
The Given ◽  
Moral Convictions

Within the Kantian ethics consciousness of the moral principle is a fact of reason which cannot be grounded in any antecedent data, empirical or rational. Hegel however argues that the fact of reason is necessarily embedded in the fact of „Sittlichkeit“, that a pure reason is an empty and chimerical construction, that moral knowledge is unavoidably rootet in the contingent moral convictions of the given cultural and social environment. This essay defends Hegel’s critique of Kant’s moral philosophy and – by generalizing Hegel’s hermeneutic approach – sketches the outlines of an explicatory concept of ethics which contradicts the scientistic understanding of moral philosophy characteristic for Kant, the utilitarianism and the supporters of discourse ethics likewise.

Rethinking Gramsci’s Political Philosophy

1998 ◽  
pp. 68-73
Author(s):  
Maurice A. Finocchiaro
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Principle ◽  
Theoretical Concept ◽  
Political Life ◽  
The Political ◽  
Traditional Practice ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Key Points ◽  
The Masses ◽  
Explicit Discussion ◽  
Theory Of Democracy

This paper is a clarification and partial justification of a novel approach to the interpretation of Gramsci. My approach aims to avoid reductionism, intellectualism, and one-sidedness, as well as the traditional practice of conflating his political thought with his active political life. I focus on the political theory of the Prison Notebooks and compare it with that of Gaetano Mosca. I regard Mosca as a classic exponent of democratic elitism, according to which elitism and democracy are not opposed to each other but are rather mutually interdependent. Placing Gramsci in the same tradition, my documentation involves four key points. First, the Notebooks contain an explicit discussion of Mosca's ideas such that when Gramsci objects to a theoretical concept or principle, he often presupposes a common methodological orientation, and when he objects to a particular method or approach, he often presupposes a common theoretical view. Second, Gramsci accepts and gives as much importance to Mosca's fundamental principle that in all societies organized elites rule over the popular masses. Third, Gramsci accepts Mosca's distinctive theory of democracy defined as a relationship betwen elites and masses such that the elites are open to the influx of members from the masses. Finally, there is an emblematic practical political convergence btween the two: in 1925, both opposed a Fascist bill against Freemasonry. Although their rhetoric was different, their speeches exhibit astonishing substantive, conceptual and logical similarties.

Gender quotas and the problem with descriptive representation

Human Affairs ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Markéta Mottlová
Keyword(s):  
Political Representation ◽  
Theoretical Concept ◽  
Descriptive Representation ◽  
Women In Politics ◽  
Gender Quotas ◽  
Main Question ◽  
Homogenous Group ◽  
Iris Marion Young ◽  
Social Collective

AbstractThe article focuses on descriptive representation, which is a fundamental theoretical concept underpinning the introduction of gender quotas. The main question I consider in the paper is how to overcome the essentialism of descriptive representation. I consider the essentialist line of reasoning as unsustainable because it pays little attention to differences among women. I claim that a possible and desirable solution is based on the concept of gender as seriality-by Iris Marion Young. Although women do not constitute a homogenous group, it is meaningful to talk about women as a group in some sense, specifically as a social collective. In this connection, I highlight the advantages of gender as seriality. Firstly and most importantly, it overcomes the essentialism of descriptive representation. Secondly, the concept of gender as seriality enables us to identify the barriers faced by women in politics. Finally, it highlights why quotas are legitimate tools that can be used to increase women’s political representation

Imperatives of Right

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-329
Author(s):  
Andrew Israelsen ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Moral Philosophy ◽  
Practical Philosophy ◽  
Moral Domain ◽  
Moral Duties ◽  
Fundamental Tension ◽  
The Relationship

The relationship between Kant’s “Doctrine of Right” and his broader moral philosophy is a fraught one, with some readers insisting that the two domains are mutually supporting parts of a cohesive practical philosophy and others arguing for their conceptual and legislative independence. In this paper I investigate the reasons for this disparity and argue that both main interpretive camps are mistaken, for Kant’s Rechtslehre can neither be reconciled to his moral philosophy nor stand on its own. I argue that this failure results from Kant’s confused attempt to define the sphere of right as one that functions independently of (yet analogously to) the moral domain through the construction of non-moral yet categorical imperatives. The result is a fundamental tension in Kant’s text that can only be solved through either collapsing juridical duties into broad moral duties or denying any categorical status to duties of right.

scholarly journals Integrated Learning in a Science of Kriyayoga Course

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 55-65
Author(s):  
MAUREEN P. HALL ◽  
BALRAM SINGH ◽  
AMINDA J. O’HARE ◽  
EVAN G. AMES
Keyword(s):  
Spiritual Development ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Public University ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
Present Moment ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Main Question ◽  
Key Points ◽  
Mind And Body ◽  
Learning Data

This study investigated changes in student self-awareness in a newly developed science course, The Science of Kriyayoga, which is a part of the Indic Studies minor at a medium size public university. Students enrolled in this course learned and practiced Kriyayoga techniques twice a week, over 15 weeks. Kriyayoga, a form of contemplative practice, emphasizes an anchoring and habitation in the present moment. Kriayoga is based on techniques designed to accelerate spiritual development and to create a profound state of tranquility in the participants. Pedagogy for this course utilized mind and body techniques for deepened learning. Data was collected in the form of surveys and interviews with students over two iterations of the course taught by the same instructor. One main question used for this study was, “To what extent and in what ways do you understand yourself in a scientific way through this course?” Two other questions were “Who are you?” and “What/who is your ideal?” Both quantitative and qualitative data was distilled and themes emerged which represent the key points of the findings.

Moral Philosophy, Moral Identity and Moral Cacophony: On MacIntyre on the Modern Self

2008 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seiriol Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Moral Philosophy ◽  
Moral Identity ◽  
The Self ◽  
Moral Tradition ◽  
Rational Thought ◽  
Modern Self

AbstractThis paper focuses on Alasdair MacIntyre’s critique of the modern self, arguing that we are not as bereft of the resources to engage in rational thought about value as he makes out. I claim that MacIntyre’s argument presumes that philosophy has a much greater power to shape individuals and cultures than it in fact has. In particular, he greatly exaggerates the extent to which the character of the modern self has been an effect of the philosophical views of the self that have been influential during the period, leading him to be overly pessimistic about its nature and powers. Finally, I argue that MacIntyre has provided us with no strong reason for thinking that a moral tradition structured by modern values could not be viable.

Introduction

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Audi
Keyword(s):  
Moral Philosophy ◽  
Major Elements ◽  
Moral Knowledge ◽  
Belief Formation ◽  
Moral Perception ◽  
Rational Order

This introductory chapter discusses how perception figures in giving moral knowledge and how moral perception is connected with intuition and emotion. It challenges stereotypes regarding both intuition and emotion, especially the view that they are either outside the rational order or tainted by irrationality. In doing this, the chapter criticizes one or another form of intellectualism—that is, the tendency to treat perception, cognition (especially belief formation), and rationality itself as dependent on intellectual operations such as inference, reasoning processes, and analysis. The chapter aims to realize two goals: to lay out major elements of a moral philosophy that reflects a well-developed epistemology, and to make epistemological points that emerge best in exploring the possibility of moral knowledge.

Hegel's Morals

Dialogue ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-102
Author(s):  
David Couzens Hoy
Keyword(s):  
Moral Philosophy ◽  
Political Behavior ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Kantian Ethics ◽  
Ad Hominem ◽  
Historical Progress ◽  
Dialectical Reasoning ◽  
Philosophical Writings ◽  
Kantian Morality ◽  
Systematic Explanation

Opponents of Hegel's philosophy traditionally support their arguments against his metaphysics and dialectical methodology by implying that the lack of an ethics in his system has unfortunate consequences for personal and political life. In rebuttal, defenders of Hegel then block thead hominemcharges by pointing out examples of sound moral and political behavior in Hegel's own life and by arguing that amoral or immoral conduct is not entailed by Hegel's dialectical reasoning. The success of this defense of the biographical Hegel has not yet been matched, however, by a systematic explanation of the nature of morality based on Hegel's philosophical writings themselves. Instead of supplying an alternative to Kant's conception of morality, Hegel's texts indeed seem to involve the devious strategy of attacking Kantian morality and then abruptly moving on to another topic. The shift of discussion to religion or the state appears to force commentators to conclude either that his philosophy lacks a systematic moral philosophy (Marcuse) or that it surreptitiously preserves an essentially Kantian ethics (Knox). In the former case his system apparently permits immoral conduct (for the sake of historical progress), and in the latter the philosopher merely deceives us with a dialectical sleight of hand. In either case, Hegel's morals are still in doubt.

Introduction

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Emelia Quinn
Keyword(s):  
Queer Theory ◽  
Moral Philosophy ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Food Studies ◽  
Broad Definition ◽  
Key Points ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Theoretical Paradigms

The Introduction establishes the key theoretical paradigms within which the book is positioned. It contextualizes the contemporary vegan movement and offers a broad definition of veganism, and its distinction from vegetarianism, before situating the work within the emergent field of vegan theory and detailing its origins in the related fields of animal studies, ecocriticism, posthumanism, food studies, and moral philosophy. Vegan theory’s key points of intersection with contemporary queer theory are also elaborated. The Introduction argues that veganism might best be conceptualized as a state of strategic insufficiency, and queering of normative humanity, in which a sense of failure and complicity co-exists alongside utopian gestures and ethical commitments.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document