Personal Relationships and the Normative Landscape

Conference Theme
Personal relationships have long been a topic of interest within traditional moral theorising. In more recent years, however, philosophers have expanded their focus, investigating how personal relationships might bear upon other normative phenomena. There is, for instance, a burgeoning literature that investigates our epistemic duties to our loved ones. Another recent development examines how personal relationships fit into theories of well-being. There has also been a revival of interest in the question as to how personal relationships contribute to the development of agency and the construction of personal identity.

The primary aim of this conference is to capitalise upon the momentum of this emerging research programme. The papers presented will establish illuminating connections between personal relationships and our understanding of the wider normative landscape.

Speakers

The conference will comprise four sessions, followed by commentaries on each:

1. Mark Schroeder (University of Southern California): 'Tipping Points: Abuse and Transformative Discovery'

-- Commentator: Gerald Lang

2. Cathy Mason (Central European University): 'Friendship and Moving on from Wrongdoing'

-- Commentator: Luke Brunning

3. Paloma Morales (London School of Economics): ‘What Do Bedtime Stories Have to Do With It? Social Norms and Family Relationships’ 

-- Commentator: Natasha McKeever

4. Justin Snedegar (University of St Andrews): 'Critical Partiality'

-- Commentator: Joseph Bowen