Korsgaards idea of selfconstitution is based on the idea that the unity of an action and the unity of an agent are not detachable. Korsgaards argument first, korsgaard rejects the common conception of action where the function of actions is to bring something about. The interesting question, almost everyone agrees, is whether practical reason requires anything more, such as a principle of morality or prudence. Two conceptions of agency the original aim of this paper was to throw some light on the question whether, when people act together, there is some way in which they are able to. However, it is evident that some existentialist issues might challenge korsgaards conception of. However, she remains convinced that the kantian idea of selfconstitution is indispensable for giving an account of agency, and therefore of moral agency, itself. On the basis of that theory, she argues that only morally good action can serve the function of action, which is selfconstitution.
A commentary on christine korsgaard s the constitution of agency and self constitution. Furthermore, one is stated to be responsible for what one does because we have a form of identity that is constituted by our chosen actions p. Two conceptions of agency the original aim of this paper was to throw some light on the question whether, when people act together, there is. Uludag universitesi fen edebiyat fakultesi felsefe dergisi uludag university faculty of arts and sciences. Constitution, christine korsgaard continues to pursue a neo. If the main theme of christine korsgaards the constitution of agency ca and selfconstitution sc were to be distilled into a pithy slogan, this would be an excellent candidate. Agency, identity, and integrity oxford, 2009, and fellow creatures. Korsgaards contention is that frankfurtstyle accounts of personhood square nicely with utilitarianism, but that her kantian roots demand an account of personhood on which agency and action are central. They are organized into three parts, and preceded by a very rich introduction, which. Dec 14, 2010 as she shows, the only way to make sense of self. An original theory of the foundation of practical reason and moral obligation. Korsgaard, selfconstitution in the ethics of plato and kant. In this paper, i will examine korsgaards kantian notion of. Korsgaard furthermore speaks of the process of selfconstitution as involving the selection of certain social roles, and of fulfi lling such roles with integrity and dedication.
Korsgaard, christine m libros en idiomas extranjeros. How to make something of yourself without being all that you can be. Korsgaards the sources of normativity geoffrey allan plauche spring 2002 phil4943. Christine korsgaard claims that kantian moral law means the law of selfconstitution and that unless we fully understand what selfconstitution means in kant, we cannot comprehend kantian morality. Agency, identity, and integrity kindle edition by korsgaard, christine m download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Yet, the constitution of agency cannot begin from merely any principleit requires not one imposed on it from outside, for it has no reason to accept such a principle, but one that is its own. In this article, korsgaard is not, despite the title, doing something historical. She is aware of the apparent problem that ensues from this position, which she presents in the guise of the paradox of selfconstitution, namely. Constructivism in metaethics stanford encyclopedia of.
And lear takes this to be a challenge to my own view, that the unity of agency must be produced by autonomous acts of selfconscious rational selfconstitution. Agency, identity, and integrity article pdf available in ethics 1212. Pdf the categorical imperative in defence of animal. Few moral philosophers, however, have exploited the idea that actions might be morally good or bad in virtue of being good or bad of their kind good or bad as actions. Christine korsgaard s 1996 book, the sources of normativity, attracted a great deal of attention. On the basis of that theory, she argues that only morally good action can serve the function of. At most, she argues that plato and kant agree on something but demonstrating that point is not her goal.
This is what korsgaard calls kants hypothetical imperative. This book presents an account of the foundation of practical reason and moral obligation. This volume collects ten influential papers by christine m. Uludag universitesi fenedebiyat fakultesi felsefe dergisi uludag university faculty of arts and sciences. Agency, identity, and integrity 2009, christine korsgaard argues that the categorical imperative rules human action because it is the sole principle that allows us to reach.
This book presents an account of the foundation of practical reason and moral. Ranging widely over both historical and contemporary debates in ethics and the philosophy of agency, korsgaard sets herself the task of answering some of the hardest questions moral philosophy has to ask. Korsgaard, 0191569674, 9780191569678, oxford university press, 2009. Kantian project that attempts to ground morality in constitutive features of human agency and the self. Korsgaard s latest book, self constitution, develops and defends the broadly kantian account of action and agency that hovers. Korsgaard develops a theory of action and of interaction, and of the form interaction must take if we are to have the integrity that, she argues, is essential for agency. Constitution has the same conclusion as the sources, that is, roughly. She has defended a version of this view in her book the sources of normativity cambridge up, 1996. Korsgaard, one of todays leading moral philosophers. A dialogue with immanuel kant takes place throughout the book. It is a highly engaging attempt to answer what she calls the normative question, which is the question of what could justify moralitys demands. Pdf korsgaard on selfconstitution zeynep talay turner. Agency, identity, and integrity find, read and cite all the research you need. But were one to think of what korsgaard has in mind by selfconstitution as what kierkegaard calls selfcreation, then one would not be too far off.
In 2002, she was the first woman to give the john locke lectures at the university of oxford, which turned into her recent book, selfconstitution. Korsgaards latest book, selfconstitution, develops and defends the broadly kantian account of action and agency that hovers in the background of sources, drawing out its implications for the normative question. Selfconstitution in the ethics of plato and kant springerlink. Christine korsgaards selfconstitution, journal of moral. Christine korsgaard s self constitution, journal of moral. Korsgaard indicates ones identity to be constituted by ones choices and actions p. Plato and kant advance a constitutional model of the soul, in which reason and appetite or passion have different structural and functional roles in the generation of motivation, as opposed to the familiar combat model in which they are portrayed as independent sources of motivation struggling for control.
To act is to be engaged in a process of selfconstitution. Selfconstitution and the existential crisis as mentioned in the introduction, i find that korsgaards account of selfconstitution and the existentialist theories share many aspects. Normativity of instrumental reason oxford scholarship. Korsgaards account of selfconstitution and normativity. Christine korsgaard claims that kantian moral law means the law of self constitution and that unless we fully understand what self constitution means in kant, we cannot comprehend kantian morality. The normative constitution of agency 5 in self constitution, i discuss two models of individual agency, derived from the philosophical tradition, according to which individual agency is normatively constituted.
Pdf accepted manuscript requires a pdf viewer such as. The constitution of agency download ebook pdf, epub. And in determining what effects we will have in the world, we are at the same time determining our own identities. Korsgaard develops a theory of action and of interaction, and of the form interaction must take if we are to have the integrity that, she argues, is essential for. In this paper, i present christine korsgaards style of building a conception of animal rights protection based on a concept of kantian provenance, namely end in itself. Korsgaard presents an account of the foundation of practical reason and moral obligation. Agency, identity, and integrity oxford scholarship. Korsgaard develops a theory of action and of interaction, and of the form interaction must take if we are to have the integrity that, she argues, isessential for agency. Kantians, as we all know, are nothing if not earnest. Great clarendon street, oxford, ox2 6dp, united kingdom oxford university press is a department of the university of oxford. But if the self is constituted by that very choice, how can it be responsible for it.
Moral philosophy aspires to understand the fact that human actions, unlike the actions of the other animals, can be morally good or bad, right or wrong. Published for the most part during the decade 19932003, the essays in this collection represent a bridge between korsgaards the sources of normativity sn, and her selfconstitution sc. The principles of practical reason, especially the categorical imperative, are therefore the laws of self constitution. Selfconstitution agency, identity, and integrity christine m. Problems in ethical theory in laying out her theory for the source of normativity, christine korsgaard attempts to be inclusive by integrating her own variations on voluntarism, realism, reflective endorsement, and appeal to autonomy. Korsgaard, selfconstitution in the ethics of plato and.
On the basis of that theory, she argues that only morally good action can serve the function of action, which is self constitution. She is the author of the sources of normativity cambridge, 1996, creating the kingdom of ends cambridge, 1996, the constitution of agency oxford, 2008, selfconstitution. Selfconstitution agency identity and integrity pdf files. A commentary on christine korsgaards the constitution of agency and selfconstitution. Agency, identity, and integrity by korsgaard, christine m. For more information on dark deposits, see our faq.
Korsgaard is the arthur kingsley porter professor of philosophy at harvard. Moral philosophy aspires to understand the fact that human actions, unlike the actions of the other animals, can be morally good or bad. Korsgaard is responding to such philosophers as harry frankfurt who make desire central to their account of personhood. One of korsgaard s crucial claims is that action is self constitution pp. Agency, identity, and integrity cm korsgaard oxford. Few moral philosophers, however, have exploited the idea that actions might be morally good or bad in virtue of being good or bad of their. Korsgaard presents an account of the foundation of p. Korsgaard harvard university i havent thought much about the topic of irony before, and when i was asked to comment on these lectures, my first thought was that kantians probably are not very good at it.
Oct 27, 2017 selfconstitution and the existential crisis as mentioned in the introduction, i find that korsgaards account of selfconstitution and the existentialist theories share many aspects. Agency, identity, and integrity, 2009, 245 pages, christine m. Jan 01, 2014 christine korsgaards 1996 book, the sources of normativity, attracted a great deal of attention. In terms of the constitutional model we may explain what makes an action. Selfconstitution in the ethics of plato and kant semantic scholar. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Most philosophers think it uncontroversial that practical reason requires us to take the means to our ends, but have been silent about the normative foundation of this requirement. Korsgaards latest book, self constitution, develops and defends the broadly kantian account of action and agency that hovers. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading selfconstitution. The constitution of agency download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl. Korsgaard argues that an aristotelian account of the virtues as excellences of character should play an important role in a complete account of what makes a good moral agent. Self constitution agency, identity, and integrity christine m. Jun 15, 2009 korsgaard develops a theory of action and of interaction, and of the form interaction must take if we are to have the integrity that, she argues, is essential for agency.
Plato and kant advance a constitutional model of the soul, in which reason and appetite or passion have different structural and functional roles in the generation of. Project muse practical reason and the unity of agency. Selfconstitution in the ethics of plato and kant received and accepted 15 september 1998. But what korsgaard means by selfconstitution is as much selfmaintenance as selfcreation. However, it is evident that some existentialist issues might challenge korsgaards conception of selfconstitution as we will see.
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