Morgane Delorme and Gabriel Monette are launching a reading group in the philosophy of economics. The goal will be to hold discussions on current articles in the philosophy of economics, covering topics such as business ethics, the ethics of environmental economics, distributive justice in a capitalist context, and monetary and financial ethics.To participate, you can contact the organizers (Morgane Delorme: morgane.delorme.1@umontreal.ca; or Gabriel Monette: gabriel.monette@hec.ca).
Text for the first session: Alan Thomas, “Is the Democratization of Central Banking a Technocratic Problem?” (May 22, 2023).
Nick Clanchy will be presenting on “Against Hermeneutical Gatekeeping” in the Midis de l’éthique series.
To participate by Zoom, click here.
As part of GRIN’s conferences, Max Lewis will present on “The Power to Forgive Debts of Gratitude.”
To participate via Zoom, clic here.
Abstract
It is a commonplace that benefactors do not have the normative power to forgive or waive debts of gratitude. I argue that this commonplace is mistaken. I argue that this normative power follows from the same considerations that support the existence of other normative powers (e.g., consent). In particular, having the power to waive debts of gratitude is necessary for the possibility of forging and maintaining the kinds of meaningful and minimally morally decent personal relationships that we value greatly. If we could not waive debts of gratitude, then we would not be able to forge and maintain such relationships. But, clearly, we can do this, so we must have the power to forgive debts of gratitude. I then argue that the canonical way of explaining why we have normative powers, plausibly explains why we have this power. The explanation is that we have an important interest in living autonomously, i.e., being able to be (part) author of our own lives by freely choosing from amongst various, diverse, and morally decent options without being coerced or manipulated.
As part of the CRÉ + Obvia midis de l’éthique, Dave Anctil (Obvia, Brébeuf) will present a lecture entitled “Robopolis. Prolegomena to a political philosophy of AI“.
Abstract: Foundation models (LLM and LMM) need to be evaluated in their growing agential capabilities to understand the ethical and political issues raised by AI. In particular: their abilities to use tools and third parties, to compensate for their limitations and to collaborate with other agents to perform an increasing diversity of tasks. Clarifying the concepts of agentivity and interaction with AIS should be the starting point for any future political philosophy.
Hybrid conference: to participate by zoom, click here.
The CRÉ’s research axis Éthique environnementale et animale and the Groupe de recherche en éthique environnementale et animale (GRÉEA) are please to announce that Richard Healey (London School of Economics) and Angie Pepper (University of Roehampton) will be giving us an online presentation on “Pets, Power, and the Problem of Human Tyranny.”
To participate on Zoom, click here.
Abstract
A central tenet of liberal political philosophy is that no individual naturally has legitimate power or authority over another. In this paper, we consider the legitimacy of the power wielded over a largely neglected population, namely, pets. While everyone objects to the abuse or neglect of pets, many of those writing in animal ethics assume that there is nothing inherently problematic about the social and political practices that assign “guardians” extensive power over the lives of “pets.” Against this, we argue that our power over pets and other domesticated animals amounts to an objectionable form of subordination. More specifically, we argue that the relations of power that obtain between humans and pets are illegitimate because they (i) unnecessarily subject dependent and vulnerable individuals to serious risks of harm, and (ii) involve a problematic form of total control over domesticated animals’ lives. We further argue that the power wielded by humans cannot be legitimated by revisions to existing practices. The practical upshot is that, while we must continue to care for the pets already here, we have a strong reason to bring about an end to the practice of living with companion animals.
Olusegun Samuel will offer us a presentation for the “Midis de l’éthique du CRÉ” series.
More info to come.
To participate via Zoom, it’s here.
Invited speakers: John Brunero (University of Nebraska–Lincoln), Jennifer Lackey (Northwestern University), Berislav Marušić (University of Edinburgh), Timothy Williamson (Oxford).
The first Annual Laval Everything Agency Conference will be held at Laval University, Québec City, Canada. The conference aims to bring together researchers working on theoretical aspects pertaining to agency: philosophy of action, philosophy of emotions, epistemology, normativity broadly construed, meta-ethics and ethical theory in connection to agency, political philosophy, political science, foundational issues in artificial intelligence, and philosophy of biology. In addition to the keynote talks, there will be eight slots for papers selected through the call for papers.
We invite submissions of abstracts on the general theme of the conference. Among possible topics are intentional action, constraints of rationality on intention, constraints of coherence on intention and other attitudes, the normativity of attitudes, norms, and reasons for mental attitudes, including emotions and belief, the rationality of mental attitudes, sources of norms and rationality, epistemic agency, foundational issues in ethical, political theory, degrees of agency, political agency, agency in artificial intelligence, roots of agency and philosophy of biology, formal representations of agency, agency and knowledge, agency and norms of belief, emotional agency. This is not an exhaustive list of possible topics for selected talks.
Submitted abstracts should be 750 words long and be prepared for blind review. Abstracts have to be submitted electronically to the following email address: lavaleverythingagency@gmail.com. The deadline for the submission is November 1, 2023.
Speakers of accepted papers will be invited to the conference reception and will have two nights of accommodation provided on the campus of Laval University. Up to three travel bursaries will be offered to graduate students or postdocs whose papers have been selected to help cover their travel expenses.
We would like to encourage, in particular, submissions from members of underrepresented groups.
Everyone is welcome to the conference, attendance is free, but registration is required. Please register by email at lavaleverythingagency@gmail.com. The deadline for registration is April 15, 2024.
Organizers: Arturs Logins (Laval) (arturs.logins@fp.ulaval.ca) and Catherine Rioux (Laval) (catherine.rioux@fp.ulaval.ca).
Website : http://loginphilosophy.com/the-first-annual-laval-everything-agency-conference-2024
Subscription required, before April 15, 2024, 9:00 EST – To subscribe: lavaleverythingagency![[here goes you know what sign]](https://philevents.org/images/o.gif)
gmail.com
Atelier: Éthique animale et éthique de l’IA: quels croisements?
Coorganisé par Ophélie Desmons (INSPE de Paris, Sorbonne Université) et Martin Gibert (Université de Montréal).
Avec le soutien du GREEA (groupe de recherche en éthique environnementale et animale), du CRÉ (Centre de recherche en éthique) et de l’UMR 8011 “Sciences, Normes, Démocratie”, Sorbonne Université.
Appel à communication.
Lieu et lien zoom à venir.
