Stern, R. orcid.org/0000-0003-2967-647X and Watts, D. (2019) Valuing humanity: Kierkegaardian worries about Korsgaardian transcendental arguments. International Journal of Philosophy and Theology, 80 (4-5). pp. 424-442. ISSN 2169-2327
Abstract
This paper draws out from Kierkegaard’s work a distinctive critical perspective on an influential contemporary approach in moral philosophy: namely, Christine Korsgaard’s transcendental argument for the value of humanity. From Kierkegaard’s perspective, we argue, Korsgaard argument goes too far, in attributing absolute value to humanity – but also that she is required to make this claim if her transcendental argument is to work. From a Kierkegaardian perspective, to place this sort of value in humanity is problematic since it threatens to make the relation between individuals too claustrophobic. Finally, we explore the possibility of a rival approach, in which we should view others as ethically significant because they too are related to the kind of ‘third’ which Kierkegaard argues is needed to bring stability to the structure of the self. In this way, we claim, a different and more successful transcendental argument to the value of humanity can be found in the work of Kierkegaard.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2019 International Journal of Philosophy and Theology. This is an author-produced version of a paper subsequently published in International Journal of Philosophy and Theology. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Christine Korsgaard; Søren Kierkegaard; transcendental arguments; absolute vs relative value; moral scepticism |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Arts and Humanities (Sheffield) > Department of Philosophy (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 14 May 2019 08:44 |
Last Modified: | 14 Jun 2021 00:38 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1080/21692327.2019.1586568 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:145970 |