Topics in Moral Psychology

Course goals

The intended purpose of this Topics Seminar is for the participating student  (1) to become familiar with positions taken in the current debates over the specific topic area of the course; (2) to appreciate the arguments for and against the positions; and (3) to develop an independent judgment about the most promising approach in this area.     

Content

This “Topics Seminar” explores in depth issues and texts in the area of moral psychology, understood to include issues in philosophical psychology, action theory, philosophical anthropology, theories of the emotion, subjectivity, and motivation.  The specific topic will be different each time, so as to tailor it to current research developments in the field.

 

Topic for 26-27 will be announced later.

The specific topic for 2024-2025 was:  

Moral emotions & practical reasoning
How do emotions figure in practical reasoning? When do they help us to navigate moral and social challenges, when do they lead us astray? This course investigates theoretical and practical dimensions of emotions. We will discuss topics such as cuteness, disgust and the treatment of animals; enthusiasm and fear about technology; hope and anxiety in the context of climate change; the fittingness of anger vis-a-vis social injustice; remorse, apology, and attitudes towards punishment; degradation/dehumanization and how they help to understand racism, misogyny and genocide.


This course is for Students History and Philosophy of Science, RMA Philosophy. Students of other MA-programmes, please contact the RMA Programme Coordinator (n.miltenburg@uu.nl).  
 
The entrance requirements for Exchange Students will be checked by International Office and the Programme coördinator. Therefore, you do not have to contact the Programme coördinator yourself.

Additional information

Counts towards the fulfillment of the “Topics Seminar” requirement for RMA Philosophy students.