The Chicago Moral Philosophy Project brings an esteemed scholar specializing in ethics to visit the University of Chicago’s Department of Philosophy each spring. The scholar teaches one graduate-undergraduate course, leads a faculty-doctoral student reading group, and provides special advising to students. The program enhances the curriculum in moral philosophy for graduates and undergraduates and fosters productive and rigorous discussion about ethical topics within the Department of Philosophy and beyond.
The Project: Spring 2017
The visiting scholar for spring 2017 is Anselm Mueller. Professor Mueller graduate-undergraduate course is Ethics of Anscombe.
Course Description:
Elizabeth Anscombe has deeply influenced moral philosophy since the publication of her book Intention and the article “Modern Moral Philosophy.” The rise of contemporary Virtue Ethics is only one indication of this influence; and the important themes addressed in those writings are only some among a great many topics raised and absorbingly discussed in Anscombe’s work on ethics and matters moral.
This class is intended to track and discuss the most central issues she brings to our attention in her uniquely original and searching way.It covers both questions in the area of “meta-ethics” and the discussion of basic moral standards, including topics such as, teleological and psychological foundations; kinds and sources of practical necessity; the importance of truth; practical reasoning; morally relevant action descriptions; intention and consequence; “linguistically created” institutions; knowledge and certainty in moral matters; upbringing versus conscience; sex and marriage; war and murder; human’s spiritual nature.
The course meets Tu&Th 9-10:20 (location TBA)
Past courses include: Final Ends; Aristotle on Practical Wisdom.
Past reading group topics include: teleological explanations; good reasons; the good as a formal object.
Contact Person
Contact person: Candace Vogler, vogue@uchicago.edu
