Moral Conflict and Social Construction — Peripatetic Philosophy

Last week's topics included central debates in moral philosophy: the difference between doing and allowing harm, the structure of consequentialist reasoning, and the puzzles raised by epistemic paradoxes. Questions of social ontology and naturalistic accounts of social construction were considered, along with Platonism in mathematics. Classic moral problems appeared in the work of Foot and Thomson on abortion, the doctrine of double effect, and the trolley problem, while Singer’s account of famine addressed obligations to global poverty. Parfit’s reflections on identity, Dretske’s attempt to naturalize the mind, Blackburn’s introduction to ethics, MacIntyre’s critique of modern morality, and theories of action were also examined

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We gather at Flywheel Coffee, near Stanyan and Page. At 11:15am we begin a hike through Golden Gate Park and return to Flywheel by 1:00pm. During the walk, we'll discuss your philosophical topics, whatever they may be.

Each of us has his or her own philosophical history and journey, and during these walks, we introduce each other to our recent questions and reflections. There is no assigned reading, no required text. Bring your own recommendations, or see what has been recommended by others before.

In this dropbox folder you'll find texts and videos that have been discussed on previous occasions. You'll also find a list of recommended texts, if you are new to philosophy.