Ethics Reading Group

Published September 6, 2026

Fall 2026

The Ethics Reading Group ('ERG') has restarted! We will explore recent work in and around the discipline of ±ð³Ù³ó¾±³¦²õ—especially broadly applied areas like political philosophy, social philosophy, applied ethics, technology ethics, etc. This can be a way to develop background in ethics outside of seminars, to discover new topics that might be of interest, or just to spend time evaluating ethical arguments and positions.
  • Times: for FA26, the ERG will meet every 2–3 weeks, alternating between a recent book and some articles. See the schedule below.
  • Location: meetings for will normally occur in person from 3:00pm to 4:30pm in MHB–915.
  • Contact: For further details, questions, scheduling, etc., contact ERG organizer Per Milam.
  • Listserv: The department has established a reading group listserv for ease of communication. If you would like to be subscribed and be able to send and receive reading group messages, contact PHIL webmaster Cory Wright.

September 2nd
Fuerstein (2024), Experiments in Living: Introduction (ch. 1)

September 9th
Lam (2019), 'The invisible hand from the grave'
Nota bene: Professor Lam will be visiting ºÚÁÏÍø on October 8th 2026 for an SI colloquium.

September 16th
Fuerstein (2024), Experiments in Living Together: Barriers to Change (ch. 2)

September 23rd
???? (20??), 'Tbd'

September 30th
Fuerstein (2024), Experiments in Living Together: Joint Flourishing (ch. 3)

Octber 7th
???? (20??), 'Tbd'

Octber 14th
Fuerstein (2024), Experiments in Living Together (ch. 4)

 

Summer 2022

The SU22 reading party is a series of social events for students interested in normative ethics, metaethics, moral psychology, and related topics. Participants will focus on just one paper at each meeting. Volunteers are invited to lead discussion, and, ideally, to provide a handout with argument reconstructions and discussion questions.

For further details, questions, or adjustments to scheduling of events, please contact organizer Yahui Chen.

  • Times: Tentatively, the group will meet on Sundays from 5:30pm–7:00pm beginning May 22nd 2022 and ending July 17th 2022. (The exception will be June 26th; participants will regroup the weekend thereafter.)
  • Location: Initially, the first meeting will be held outside of the Library on the south campus quad as a picnic/potluck. Subsequent meetings are tbd—see below. The group may continue to meet outside on the quad or else at the ºÚÁÏÍø library or may switch to a digital mode depending on what is best for all.

Discussion Leader: Yahui Chen
Reading: Richmond Campbell (2007), ‘What is moral judgment?‘  •  5:30pm Sunday 22 May (potluck/picnic on the ºÚÁÏÍø south campus quad; contact Yahui for suggestions/rsvp)

Discussion Leader: Yahui Chen
Reading: Bernard Williams (1981), ‘Utilitarianism and moral self-indulgence‘; Judith Jarvis Thomson (1997), ‘The right and the good‘  •  5:30pm Sunday 29 May (will meet at the tables in front of the Library for a potluck;  is feasible as well)

Discussion Leader: Yahui Chen
Reading: Peter Railton (1984), ‘Alienation, consequentialism, and the demands of morality‘  •  5:30pm Sunday 05 June (meeting in front of the Library for a potluck; for remote participants)

Discussion Leader: Yahui Chen
Reading: John McDowell (1979), ‘Virtue and reason‘  • 5:30pm Sunday 12 June (meeting will be on )

Discussion Leader: Yahui Chen
Reading: Christine Korsgaard (1989), ‘Kant’s analysis of obligation: the argument of Foundations I‘  •  5:30pm Sunday 19 June (meeting will be on )

Discussion Leader: Yahui Chen
Reading: Onora O’Neill (1989), ‘Reason and autonomy in Grundlegung III‘  •  5:30pm Sunday 03 July26 June ()

Discussion Leader: Yahui Chen
Reading: Thomas Hill (1971), ‘Kant on imperfect duty and supererogation‘  •  5:30pm Sunday 10 July03 July ()

Discussion Leader: Yahui Chen
Reading: David Velleman (1999), ‘Love as a moral emotion‘  •  5:30pm Sunday 17 July10 July ()