CSU Philosophy Seminar, 5 April, Michael Brady
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Cohen, Daniel
Apr 3, 2016, 9:59:05 PM4/3/16
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Tuesday, 5 April, 4 pm -6 pm
Michael Brady (University of Glasgow)
Title: The virtue of suffering
Abstract: Common sense associates virtue with pleasure. Thus Aristotle writes: “For that which is virtuous is pleasant or free from pain – least of all will it be painful.” Virtue, on this view, seems to be incompatible with pain and suffering. My aim in this paper is to argue for a rather radical conclusion. For I don’t just think that virtue is compatible with suffering, in the sense that an individual’s virtue can co-exist with or occur in the presence of their suffering. Instead, I want to argue that forms of suffering can themselves constitute virtuous motives. In short: suffering can be virtuous, in much the same way that compassion, benevolence, and courage can be virtuous. I will make my case by focusing on two different kinds of suffering: pain as an instance of physical suffering, and remorse an instance of emotional suffering. I will argue that each kind of suffering is essential for the proper functioning of the relevant system; in particular, I will argue that each kind of suffering constitutes the motivational component of virtue appropriate to that system.
Location: Room 212, Marchant Hall, Wagga Wagga Campus.
You can also participate in this seminar by videolink from our
Canberra location: Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics (CSU), Level 1, 10-12 Brisbane Avenue, Barton ACT (take the lift to level 1 and ring the doorbell to your right). Parking is available behind the building. To be let in to the car park, stop temporarily in the bay, and call us on 6272 6277 or come up to our offices on level 1.
Daniel Cohen
Senior Lecturer in Philosophy | School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Charles Sturt University
Boorooma St
Wagga Wagga, 2678
Australia
Tel: +61 2 6933 2565
Email: dco...@csu.edu.au
Charles Sturt University
| ALBURY-WODONGA | BATHURST | CANBERRA | DUBBO | GOULBURN | MELBOURNE | ORANGE | PORT MACQUARIE | SYDNEY | WAGGA WAGGA |
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Charles Sturt University in Australia
http://www.csu.edu.au
The Grange Chancellery, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst NSW Australia 2795
(ABN: 83 878 708 551; CRICOS Provider Numbers: 00005F (NSW), 01947G (VIC), 02960B (ACT)). TEQSA Provider Number: PV12018
Consider the environment before printing this email.
Michael Brady (University of Glasgow)
Title: The virtue of suffering
Abstract: Common sense associates virtue with pleasure. Thus Aristotle writes: “For that which is virtuous is pleasant or free from pain – least of all will it be painful.” Virtue, on this view, seems to be incompatible with pain and suffering. My aim in this paper is to argue for a rather radical conclusion. For I don’t just think that virtue is compatible with suffering, in the sense that an individual’s virtue can co-exist with or occur in the presence of their suffering. Instead, I want to argue that forms of suffering can themselves constitute virtuous motives. In short: suffering can be virtuous, in much the same way that compassion, benevolence, and courage can be virtuous. I will make my case by focusing on two different kinds of suffering: pain as an instance of physical suffering, and remorse an instance of emotional suffering. I will argue that each kind of suffering is essential for the proper functioning of the relevant system; in particular, I will argue that each kind of suffering constitutes the motivational component of virtue appropriate to that system.
Location: Room 212, Marchant Hall, Wagga Wagga Campus.
You can also participate in this seminar by videolink from our
Canberra location: Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics (CSU), Level 1, 10-12 Brisbane Avenue, Barton ACT (take the lift to level 1 and ring the doorbell to your right). Parking is available behind the building. To be let in to the car park, stop temporarily in the bay, and call us on 6272 6277 or come up to our offices on level 1.
Daniel Cohen
Senior Lecturer in Philosophy | School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Charles Sturt University
Boorooma St
Wagga Wagga, 2678
Australia
Tel: +61 2 6933 2565
Email: dco...@csu.edu.au
Charles Sturt University
| ALBURY-WODONGA | BATHURST | CANBERRA | DUBBO | GOULBURN | MELBOURNE | ORANGE | PORT MACQUARIE | SYDNEY | WAGGA WAGGA |
LEGAL NOTICE
This email (and any attachment) is confidential and is intended for the use of the addressee(s) only. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you must not copy, distribute, take any action in reliance on it or disclose it to anyone. Any confidentiality is not waived or lost by reason of mistaken delivery. Email should be checked for viruses and defects before opening. Charles Sturt University (CSU) does not accept liability for viruses or any consequence which arise as a result of this email transmission. Email communications with CSU may be subject to automated email filtering, which could result in the delay or deletion of a legitimate email before it is read at CSU. The views expressed in this email are not necessarily those of CSU.
Charles Sturt University in Australia
http://www.csu.edu.au
The Grange Chancellery, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst NSW Australia 2795
(ABN: 83 878 708 551; CRICOS Provider Numbers: 00005F (NSW), 01947G (VIC), 02960B (ACT)). TEQSA Provider Number: PV12018
Consider the environment before printing this email.
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