Invitation to the Workshop Ethics in Epistemology
May 29th 2007
9h45-17h00
Philosophy Department, University of Twente (NL)
CEPTES
Invited Speakers:
Lorraine Code (York University-CA, Distinguished Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Study, Durham University-UK)
Bas van Fraassen (Princeton University-USA) ‘Values, Choices and Epistemic Stance’
Sandra Laugier (University of Picardie- FR) ‘Ethics in Epistemology : Virtue or Care’
Linda Zagzebski (University of Oklahoma-USA) ‘Moral Egoism, Epistemic Egoism’
This workshop aims to explore the possibility of an internal relation between ethics and epistemology. Ethics and epistemology are usually considered as two distinct philosophical domains. Ethics is seen as a source of external constraints on different domains of epistemic activity, and as providing an external model for the development of virtue epistemology. But when epistemology appeals to the responsibility or the motivation of epistemic agents, to traits of character such as courage or open-mindedness, as conditions for the formation of knowledge, is the image of two separate domains still appropriate? Wouldn’t the idea of an intrinsic contribution of ethics to epistemology be more relevant? Could ethical commitments then function as a productive component of the epistemic process? Seeing ourselves as epistemically responsible agents presupposes that our epistemic commitments involve choices for which we can be held responsible and which condition the acquisition of kno! wledge and may influence its content. To what extent do ethical commitments pertain to the choices that make us epistemically responsible? The presentations will be followed by an open discussion. Participation is free of charge but you are asked to register in order to facilitate the organization. A lunch-buffet will be served in the conference hotel for the participants; reservation is necessary (contribution for lunch: 15euros). For information or registration write to Isabelle Peschard. peschard@utwente.nl