Moral Exemplars, Advice, and Practical Wisdom

Rebecca Stangl (University of Virginia)

We are delighted to announce the third in a series of online talks by leading philosophers and psychologists working on interdisciplinary approaches to virtues and values: 

Thursday 20th June2024, 2.30pm-4.00pm (London BST) 

Professor Rebecca Stangl (University of Virginia) 

Title: Moral Exemplars, Advice, and Practical Wisdom 

Abstract: Moral exemplars play an important and even central role in many virtue ethical theories of practical reason and right action. The virtuous person not only sets the standard for right action, she is also someone whose moral advice should be sought and relied upon. This strain in virtue ethics, however, is in tension with an important line of argument in the recent literature on moral testimony. Pessimists about moral testimony think there is something irrational, fishy, or at least suboptimal about deferring to moral testimony. According to some, this is because deferring to moral testimony reveals a lack in our current virtue, does not make us more virtuous by its reception, and may hinder us in the longer term from developing virtue in the future. So, who is right? The virtue ethicists who recommend, at least in certain cases, deferring to moral exemplars? Or the pessimists about moral testimony who claim such deference is incompatible with virtue? I will argue that, with some caveats, the virtue ethicists are right. Moral exemplars can play the role that virtue ethicists assign them without thereby undermining the development of virtue in those whom they advise.

Register for the talk by clicking the registration link (above). After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Please email [email protected] you have any issues with registration or questions regarding the event.

The online series of talks is organised as part of the research projec Using Values to Increase Intellectual Humility Between Political Partisans. This project commenced in October 2023 following a successful funding application to the Templeton Foundation, led by Alessandra Tanesini (co-PI at Cardiff University), Greg Maio (co-PI at University of Bath), Lukas Wolf (co-I at University of Bath), Laura Smith (co-I at University of Bath), and Paul Hanel (co-I at University of Essex).

We look forward to welcoming you at the talk.