Ron Johnston (ed.)
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780197264584
- eISBN:
- 9780191734069
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- British Academy
- DOI:
- 10.5871/bacad/9780197264584.001.0001
- Subject:
- History, Cultural History
This volume contains ten lectures in the humanities and social sciences delivered at the British Academy in 2008. The lectures cover topics ranging from an exploration of the relationship between ...
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This volume contains ten lectures in the humanities and social sciences delivered at the British Academy in 2008. The lectures cover topics ranging from an exploration of the relationship between reason and identity, to an examination of social integration as the world becomes a more diverse place, to a consideration of the works of four great literary figures: King Alfred, Shakespeare, Wordsworth, and W. H. Auden.Less
This volume contains ten lectures in the humanities and social sciences delivered at the British Academy in 2008. The lectures cover topics ranging from an exploration of the relationship between reason and identity, to an examination of social integration as the world becomes a more diverse place, to a consideration of the works of four great literary figures: King Alfred, Shakespeare, Wordsworth, and W. H. Auden.
Avigail Eisenberg
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- February 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199291304
- eISBN:
- 9780191710704
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199291304.003.0007
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics, Political Theory
Reasons of identity are discernable normative considerations that are amenable to public examination and assessment. They are neither the only kind of reason nor, in all cases, the most important ...
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Reasons of identity are discernable normative considerations that are amenable to public examination and assessment. They are neither the only kind of reason nor, in all cases, the most important reason to justify a group's entitlement. Identity claims are not claims which aim to preserve cultural traditions and to privilege conservative elites. They can be transformative both of minorities and of the status quo in the broader community. The identity approach does not provide an algorithm for decision makers to sort out conflicts. Rather, the approach organizes the most important concerns related to identity claims. It provides decision makers with guidance to ensure their assessments are systematic, that they have considered all relevant considerations, that they are critically aware of the challenges that some of the conditions present, and that they understand how these challenges can be met.Less
Reasons of identity are discernable normative considerations that are amenable to public examination and assessment. They are neither the only kind of reason nor, in all cases, the most important reason to justify a group's entitlement. Identity claims are not claims which aim to preserve cultural traditions and to privilege conservative elites. They can be transformative both of minorities and of the status quo in the broader community. The identity approach does not provide an algorithm for decision makers to sort out conflicts. Rather, the approach organizes the most important concerns related to identity claims. It provides decision makers with guidance to ensure their assessments are systematic, that they have considered all relevant considerations, that they are critically aware of the challenges that some of the conditions present, and that they understand how these challenges can be met.
Genia Schönbaumsfeld
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- December 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780198783947
- eISBN:
- 9780191826597
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198783947.003.0002
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Metaphysics/Epistemology
It is a commonly accepted assumption in contemporary epistemology that we need to find a solution to ‘closure-based’ sceptical arguments, and hence to the ‘scepticism or closure’ dilemma. In this ...
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It is a commonly accepted assumption in contemporary epistemology that we need to find a solution to ‘closure-based’ sceptical arguments, and hence to the ‘scepticism or closure’ dilemma. In this chapter I argue that this is mistaken, since the closure principle does not, in fact, do real sceptical work. Rather, the decisive, scepticism-friendly moves are made before the closure principle is even brought into play. If we cannot avoid the sceptical conclusion, this is not due to closure’s holding it in place, but because we’ve already been persuaded to accept a certain conception of perceptual reasons, which both issues a standing invitation to radical scepticism and is endemic in the contemporary literature. Once the real villain of the piece is exposed, it will become clear that the closure principle has been cast in the role of scapegoat in this debate.Less
It is a commonly accepted assumption in contemporary epistemology that we need to find a solution to ‘closure-based’ sceptical arguments, and hence to the ‘scepticism or closure’ dilemma. In this chapter I argue that this is mistaken, since the closure principle does not, in fact, do real sceptical work. Rather, the decisive, scepticism-friendly moves are made before the closure principle is even brought into play. If we cannot avoid the sceptical conclusion, this is not due to closure’s holding it in place, but because we’ve already been persuaded to accept a certain conception of perceptual reasons, which both issues a standing invitation to radical scepticism and is endemic in the contemporary literature. Once the real villain of the piece is exposed, it will become clear that the closure principle has been cast in the role of scapegoat in this debate.
