Philosophy
THE ETHICS OF SELF-DEFENCE
University of Stirling, Iris Murdoch Centre
08/07/09
10.00 -11.30 Suzanne Uniacke (Philosophy, Hull) – “Proportionality and Self-Defence”
Response by Christopher Bennet (Philosophy, Sheffield)
11.30 -11.45 break
11.45 -13.15 Victor Tadros (Law, Warwick) – “The Moral Foundations of Self-Defence”
Response by Michael Otsuka (Philosophy, UCL)
13:15 - 14:15 lunch
14.15 - 15.45 Massimo Renzo (Philosophy, Stirling) – “Three Principles of State Legitimacy”
Response by Helen Frowe (Philosophy, Sheffield)
15.45 - 16.00 break
16.00 - 17:30 Jeff McMahan (Philosophy, Rutgers) – “Proportionality in Self-Defense and War”
Response by David Rodin (Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed conflict, Oxford)
Aims and Purposes: The principle of self-defense, in its various formulations, has been widely discussed in the philosophical debate over the last 30 years.
If the focus of the debate in philosophy of law has certainly been on its use as a defence to homicide, the scope of the discussion in moral and political
philosophy has been wider than that. Since the principle of self-defence seems to offer one of the most uncontroversial justifications for using force
(sometimes lethal force) against others, philosophers keep going back to it in order to deal with questions connected to the morality of war, the justification
of punishment or the morality of abortion.
The aim of this workshop is to bring together a group of philosophers interested in discussing the justification of self-defence and its applications in legal,
moral and political philosophy.
Format: All the papers will be circulated in advance, and participants will be expected to have read them. Each paper has been assigned a respondent, who will introduce the discussion.
The event will be open to scholar and post-graduates from all over the UK, up to a total of about 25. A very limited number of places are still available.
If you are interested please write to Massimo Renzo: massimo.renzo@stir.ac.uk.
This event is generously supported by the the Department of Philosophy – University of Stirling, the Roberts Fund, the Scots Philosophical Club and The Society for Applied Philosophy.