Dartmouth Events

Abstract  We all have personal ideals: we all want to be good (enough) in a wide range of ways. In this talk I explore the action-guiding role of these ideals.  How do they constrain our responses to reasons?  What follows from the fact that we have an imperfect understanding of what we must do to live up to them? What sort of conflicts among our ideals are worth living with? What is the relation between such conflicts and the ideal of being someone who treats others with concern and respect?

Sarah Buss is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Michigan. Her special interests are issues at the intersection of metaphysics and ethics. She is the author of articles on autonomy, moral responsibility, practical rationality, and respect for persons. Her current projects address the normative significance of formal principles of practical rationality, the nature of reasons for action, the will's contribution to action, and the moral implications of certain basic human capacities.

Free and open to all. Reception follows.

The Sapientia lecture Series is funded to The Mark J. Byrne 1985 Fund in Philosophy.