Kant on Prejudice

Janum Sethi (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor)

For those who wish to attend this event in person, please email Nicole Kirkpatrick ([email protected]) by November 12th to RSVP.

Title: Kant on Prejudice

Abstract: 

Although Kant’s view of the rational subject has been enormously influential, far less attention has been paid to his account of what occurs when a subject fails to reflect on her reasons and falls under the influence of what he calls prejudice. My first goal in this paper is to work out the details of Kant’s account of prejudice, as well as of what he takes to be necessary to overcome it. Next, I provide some considerations in support of this account. In allowing that a subject’s associations and inclinations can cause her to judge and act in prejudiced ways, Kant recognizes that prejudice does not always consist in mere errors of reasoning and, I show, anticipates contemporary discussions of what has come to be known as implicit bias. This does not mean, however, that a subject is not rationally accountable for her prejudices on Kant’s view, since he argues that she can always refrain from automatically endorsing her associations and inclinations. In this way, I argue, Kant’s account successfully avoids either over- or under-intellectualizing prejudice.

Zoom Invitation:

Topic: Janum Sethi

Time: Nov 19, 2021 03:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting: https://westernuniversity.zoom.us/j/98105587118

Meeting ID: 981 0558 7118

Passcode: 455942