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Talk with Chelsea Bowden

September 12, 2024
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
University Hall 448

Date: September 12, 2024

Time: 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

The Speaker:
Chelsea Bowden (Denison University)

 

Pyrrhonist Preferences and Moral Action

 

Skeptics (and particularly Pyrrhonian Skeptics) have historically gotten a bad rap when it comes to

living an ethical life. Both ancient and contemporary philosophers argue that owing to some central

features of the Pyrrhonist’s philosophical way of life—the so-called “Skeptic Way”—she will be

unable or unlikely to perform morally good actions, especially in unjust socio-political contexts. This

paper will explore whether and to what extent the Pyrrhonist, who (a) lives a life wholly without

belief (adoxastōs) and (b) continuously pursues tranquility (ataraxia), can and will act in ways we would

deem morally good. In doing so I will examine three specific charges leveled against the Pyrrhonist

by philosophers who claim she is unable or unlikely to act ethically because she lacks the necessary

psychological resources—beliefs and commitments—to do so. I ultimately argue that, though the

Pyrrhonist lacks beliefs and commitments, she instead has resources that are functionally equivalent

in her stable desires and preferences. I maintain that the Pyrrhonist’s desires and preferences are

likely to lead her to reliably perform actions of positive moral worth (and perhaps even more often

than her dogmatic counterparts) in those unjust socio-political contexts put forward by her

detractors.