Social Group Moral Encroachment

null, Veli Mitova (University of Johannesburg, University of Vienna)

The Collective Ethics Seminar: Online Presentation – 6 November 2023 - 15.15 - 16.45 CET / 09.15 - 10.45 EST

Veli Mitova (University of Johannesburg) – Social Group Moral Encroachment

On Monday 6 November, Veli Mitova will give a presentation in the Collective Ethics Seminar entitled ‘Social Group Moral Encroachment’.

Abstract: According to moral encroachers, the moral stakes of a belief partly determine how much evidence we need for the belief to count as knowledge. This view concerns the beliefs of individual believers. In this talk, I argue for a social group version of moral encroachment: dominant groups, such as white people or men, need to have more evidence than the marginalised in order for some of their beliefs to constitute knowledge. I argue for this claim in three steps­. First, I spell out the group moral stakes involved­—the harms dominant knowers cause the marginalised and the knowledge economy. Second, I show off the theoretical benefits of having the notion of social group moral encroachment at our disposal: it can be an invaluable tool for decolonial and feminist epistemologists if they want to avoid the relativistic ring to their views (a ring that tends to put off many well-wishers). Finally, I start on a positive account of social group moral encroachment by addressing a potential puzzle and responding to objections.

The online seminar is open for all to attend. The other remaining presenters this semester areFrank Hindriks (University of Groningen), Barbara Vetter (FU Berlin), Anne Schwenkenbecher (Murdoch University), and Maeve McKeown (University of Groningen). For more information about the seminar and the schedule, please see https://social.univie.ac.at/events/collective-ethics-seminar/.

The session starts at 15.15 CET / 09.15 EST. You can join the session via the following link: https://univienna.zoom.us/j/62736288881?pwd=SndEdTNoNlZtSzJqcmpabm5NaWIyUT09

We hope to see you at the seminar!

Kind regards,

Gunnar Björnsson (Stockholm University), Olle Blomberg (University of Gothenburg), and Niels de Haan (University of Vienna)