This conference addresses the question of whether human action is intrinsically moral\, and hence as well the question of whether and how a conception of the nature of action ought to be relevant for a theory of what is good or right to do. This issue comes up in contemporary discussions in many different forms: whether practical rationality can be understood in instrumental terms\, whether instrumental rationality is normative\, whether all intentional action is done under &ldquo\;the guise of the good\,&rdquo\; etc. The aim of the conference is to address this question from a variety of perspectives\, both \;historical (Aristotelian\, Humean\, Kantian and Hegelian approaches) and contemporary (Davidson\, Anscombe\, etc.). Also of interest for our subject are perspectives on action in the social sciences\, which standardly approach action is instrumental (&ldquo\;rational choice&rdquo\;) and yet also theorize the social dimensions of human agency\, like Hegel or even Aristotle. The conference aims to make a contribution to the study of human action\, overcoming the abstractions and shortcomings that stem from a lack of dialogue between different traditions and academic disciplines.
\nConference program
Monday\, September 10
9.00 Opening remarks
9.15-11.00 Session 1
Sebastian Rö\;dl (Basel)\, &ldquo\;External and internal purposiveness in acting intentionally&rdquo\;.
Discussant: José\; M. Torralba (Navarra)
11.00-11.15 Coffee break
11.15-13.00 Session 2
Ana Marta Gonzá\;lez (Navarra) &ldquo\;The recovery of action in social theory. Acting out of sentiment\, acting out of character\, acting out of interest\, acting out of will&rdquo\;.
Discussant: Stephan Zimmermann (Bonn)
13.15 Lunch
15.30-17.00 Session 3
Evgenia Mylonaki (Athens)\, &ldquo\;Knowledge of what one ought to do and knowledge of one&rsquo\;s own intentional actions&rdquo\;
Discussant: Patricio Ferná\;ndez (Harvard)
17.00-17.15 Coffee break
17.15-19.00 Session 4
Jesú\;s Zamora (UNED\, Madrid)\, "Human rationality and the fact-value distinction. An inferentialist approach"
Discussant: Will Small (CSMN\, Oslo)
Tuesday\, September 11
9.15-11.00 Session 5
John Levi Martin (Chicago)\, &ldquo\;The Imagination\, The Ought\, and the Critique of Neo-Kantianism&rdquo\;
Discussant: David Zapero Maier (Paris-Sorbonne)
11.00-11.15 Coffee break
11.15-13.00 Session 6
Dieter Schö\;necker (Siegen)\, &ldquo\;Kant's moral intuitionism. The fact of reason and moral predispositions&rdquo\;
Discussant: Luis Placencia (Halle)
13.15 Lunch
15.30-17.00 Session 7
Sophie Djigo (Amiens)\, &ldquo\;Leverage and Truth&rdquo\;
Discussant: Daniel Doyle (Navarra)
17.00-17.15 Coffee break
17.15-19.00 Session 8
Terry Pinkard (Georgetown)\, &ldquo\;Two contrasting conceptions of agency and why we need both&rdquo\;
Discussant: Mark Alznauer (Northwestern)
20.00 Dinner