We appeal to people’s desires (or, in more everyday language, to people’s ‘wants’) to explain a wide range of phenomena. Most familiarly, we often appeal to people’s desires to explain their actions. For example, we might explain why someone went to Paris by citing their desire to see the Mona Lisa. Some philosophers hold that desires figure in the best explanations of other things too, such as why agents are praiseworthy or virtuous (insofar as they have good desires) or blameworthy or vicious (insofar as they have bad desires). The first half of this course will examine leading theories of the nature of desire. Topics to be covered may include: evaluative theories of desire; action-based theories; and pleasure-based theories. In the second half of the course, we will look at the roles that desires have played in various debates in practical philosophy. Topics to be covered may include: desire and well-being; desire and practical reason; and desire and responsibility.
- verantwortliche Lehrperson: Samuel Mason