This seminar explores the historical development of new moral concepts. Starting from examples of new moral terms invented in the twentieth century, like 'sexual harassment', 'genocide', 'racism', and 'hate speech', this seminar asks: what we are doing when we bring ethically significant acts and events under new descriptions? Are we simply naming moral phenomena that already exist, fully formed and intact, prior to their expression in language? Or are moral phenomena sensitive to the descriptions under which they fall, such that new modes of moral expression can reshape the phenomena they bring to light?

This seminar will consist of a close reading of the new book by Matthew Congdon: Moral Articulation: On the Development of New Moral Concepts (Oxford University Press, 2023), along with background readings from the history of moral philosophy.

Seminar will be in English.

Vorbesprechung: Online - Fri April 12: 14:15 - 15:45

Blocktermine: in Presence
Fri 26 April: 14:15 - 18:45
Fri 10 Mai: 14:15 - 18:45
Fri 24 Mai: 14:15 - 18:45
Fri 7 Juni: 14:15 - 18:45
Fri 21 Juni: 14:15 - 18:45