PHIL 440A: Study Questions on Korsgaard, Lecture 3

1. For Korsgaard, our most important human capacity is our capacity for reflection. We can ask whether our motives are reasons. Freedom is the capacity to reflect and act for reasons. Why does Korsgaard believe that determinism is not a threat to freedom understood as the reflective recognition of reasons?

2. According to Korsgaard, what is the categorical imperative? How does it differ from the moral law?

3. Explain the concept/conception distinction. What does it mean to say that a practical identity is a conception of oneself?

4. What is a practical identity? What is the relation between a practical identity and an obligation?

5. Why does Korsgaard say that "voluntarism is true after all"(104).

6. Why does Korsgaard say that "realism is true after all"(108)? What kind of realism does she endorse?

7. What does Korsgaard mean when she says that "values are created by human beings"(112)? How is this compatible with realism (see (6) above)?

8. According to Korsgaard, what is the relation between thin and thick ethical concepts?

9. What is the source of relativism in (i.e., what is the contingent part of) Korsgaard's account of normativity? Why does she think that there is a non-relativist (non-contingent) core of normativity? What is it?

10. Korsgaard says that the argument referred to in the previous question is a transcendental argument. What is a transcendental argument? Why does her argument qualify as transcendental?

11. Does Korsgaard believe that moral reasons are always more important than other kinds of reasons?

12. How does the example of friendship help to illustrate Korsgaard's view of moral reasons.

13. What does Korsgaard mean when she says "we must value our humanity if we are to value anything at all"(130)? Do you agree? Explain.