Universität Wien

180171 SE Metaethics (2021W)

Constructivism and Constitutivism

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie
Continuous assessment of course work
MIXED
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 30 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Update 10.01.2022: Due to the current COVID-19 regulations all January classes will be held digitally.

  • Monday 11.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hybride Lehre
    Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Monday 18.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hybride Lehre
    Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Monday 25.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hybride Lehre
    Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Monday 08.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hybride Lehre
    Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Monday 15.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hybride Lehre
    Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Monday 22.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hybride Lehre
    Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Monday 29.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hybride Lehre
    Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Monday 06.12. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Monday 13.12. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Monday 10.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Monday 17.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Monday 24.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Monday 31.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

In this seminar we will discuss main texts on Constructivism and Constitutivism. We will discuss several classical texts on metaethical constructivism (e.g., Rawls, Korsgaard, Street), but also new material which particularly discusses the connection between Constructivism and Constitutivism. The aim of the seminar is to get a better understanding of current debates in metaethics.

This is a seminar on analytic philosophy (teaching will be in English). To attend this seminar, you need to have some background in metaethics, or, at least be willing to engage yourself in studying this topic.

Assessment and permitted materials

Regular attendance, reading of all text materials, active participation in seminar discussion

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Minimal requirements:
a) Presence: strict presence (excuses by illness)
b) 60 points are required for receiving a positive grade.

Grading standard:
a) Seminar paper in written form (5.500-6.000 words): 60 points
b) Oral presentation with Handout: 30 points
c) Active discussion participation: 10 points

Grades and points:

1 Sehr gut: 90-100 points
2 Gut: 80-90 points
3 Befriedigend: 70-80 points
4 Genügend: 60-70 points

In order to receive a grade for this seminar, you need to attend seminar sessions regularly and do a presentation with a Handout. If a presentation is not possible, you need to write a summary of one thematic unity. In addition, you need to hand in a final seminar paper of 10-15 pages (Times New Roman 12pt; around 6.500 words).

Seminar paper is due on March 15, 2022.

Please send you seminar paper to herlinde.pauer-studer@univie.ac.at and to florian.kolowrat@univie.ac.at

Examination topics

Reading list

Primary texts we will read and discuss together and also secondary literature will be uploaded on moodle.

Christine M. Korsgaard, Realism and Constructivism in 20th century moral philosophy, in: Korsgaard, The Constitution of Agency, OUP 2008: 302-326.

Christine M. Korsgaard: Self-Constitution. Agency, Identity and Integrity, OUP 2009: ch. 2, 7, 8.

Herlinde Pauer-Studer, Korsgaard’s Constitutivism and the Problem of Bad Action, in: Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 1, 21, 2018: 37-56.

Paul Katsafanas, Constitutivism and Practical Reasons. In Daniel Star (ed.), Oxford Handbook of Reasons and Normativity, OUP 2018: 367-394.

William J. FitzPatrick, The Practical Turn in Ethical Theory: Korsgaard’s Constructivism, Realism, and the Nature of Normativity, in: Ethics 115, 4, 2005: 651-691.

Sharon Street, Constructivism about reasons, in: Oxford Studies in Metaethics, Vol 3, OUP 2008: 207-245.

Sharon Street, Coming to terms with contingency: Humean Constructivism about Practical Reason, in: Jimmy Lenman and Jonathan Shemmer (eds.), Constructivism in Practical Philosophy, OUP 2012: 40-59.

Michael Smith, A Constitutivist Theory of Reasons: Its Promise and Parts, Law, Ethics and Philosophy 1, 2013: 1-30.

Michael Smith, Constitutivism, in: Tristram McPherson & David Plunkett (eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Metaethics, Routledge (2017): 371-384.

Michael Bukowski, A Critique of Smith’s Constitutivism, in: Ethics 1, 127 (2016): 116-146.

Luca Ferrero: Constitutivism and the Inescapability of Agency, in: Oxford Studies in Metaethics 4 (2009): 303-333.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Fr 12.05.2023 00:18