Moral Learning and Experience

Many philosophers think that although experience sometimes plays a crucial role in putting one in a position to attain moral knowledge, moral knowledge is not empirical knowledge. In a recent paper defending this Orthodox View (“Moral Knowledge and Experience”), Sarah McGrath argues that at best experience can play an enabling, triggering and sensitizing role in the acquisition of moral knowledge, but that it neither gives moral knowledge, nor provides evidence for it. In this talk, I will consider and reject some arguments for the Orthodox View. In addition, I will provide an alternative account according to which there is at least some moral learning by experience, and experience provides an important evidential role in the acquisition of moral knowledge.

Amber Riaz
Assistant Professor
Department of Humanities & Social Sciences
LUMS (Lahore University of Management Sciences)

Wed, Nov 1, 2017
12:30 PM - 02:00 PM
Centre for Ethics, University of Toronto
Rm 200, Larkin Building