What We Should Do and Why We Should Do It

THE 2014 BURMAN LECTURES IN PHILOSOPHY AT UMEÅ UNIVERSITY, May 26-28

"What We Should Do and Why We Should Do It"

Michael Smith
McCosh Professor of Philosophy, Princeton University

Abstract: In these lectures I show how we can move from abstract claims about the nature of action and agency to substantive claims about what agents have reasons to do. Topics covered include: the explanation of action, constitutivist theories of reasons for action, how to distinguish moral from non-moral reasons, the nature and scope of moral reasons and moral responsibility, the link between positive morality and moral reasons, the nature of love, and the moral and non-moral reasons to which love gives rise.

Lecture One: "The Standard Story of Action"
May 26, 13.15–15, Hörsal F, Humanities Building

Lecture Two: "A Constitutivist Theory of Reasons"
May 27, 13.15–15, Hörsal F, Humanities Building

Lecture Three: "A Case Study: The Reasons of Love"
May 28, 13.15–15, Hörsal F, Humanities Building


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