The 32nd Oberlin philosophy colloquium: Moral psychology, moral identity

✍ Scribed by Joram Graf Haber

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 513 KB
• Volume: 30
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-5363
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00162901

✦ Synopsis

In a seminal paper, published in 1958 in the British journal Philosophy, a G. E. M. Anscombe called for a reorientation of ethics, in which questions of character would replace questions about conduct. Arguing that the debate between deontology and utilitarianism was radically misconceived, and that philosophers were discussing the wrong subject when they discussed moral obligation and right conduct, Anscombe urged modern philosophers to scale back their ambitions and, like Aristotle, turn their attention to the virtues and vices that make us good or bad people. As part of this effort, Anscombe recommended that moral philosophers investigate concepts such as "action," "intention," "pleasure," and "wanting," which form part of our moral psychology. Some thirty-seven years later, well after Anscombe raised her banner, a group of thirty plus philosophers met for the Oberlin Philosophy Colloquium (Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio) to discuss the subject of "Moral Psychology, Moral Identity"-a colloquium Anscombe herself attended in 1977.

The Oberlin Colloquium is steeped in history. Begun in 1960, the colloquium has featured distinguished philosophers, speaking on a variety of topics in all areas of philosophy. The tradition of the Colloquium is to bring together approximately thirty philosophers on the College campus, for a weekend of philosophical discussion.