The Philosophy Department is pleased to announce that Dr. Jesse Steinberg, assistant professor of philosophy and director of the Environmental Studies Program at University of Pittsburgh (Bradford), will be giving a talk titled “Ought, Can, and Appraisability” on Friday, October 29, 2010, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Eberly Boardroom.
Abstract: A number of philosophers are rather sanguine about the truth of the principle that “ought” implies “can.” Many philosophers hold that an agent cannot be morally obligated to do something that she is unable to do. The speaker offers reasons for denying this principle, and for thinking that this popular approach to the relationship between obligation and ability is mistaken.
