Matthew Slater (Bucknell), "Biological Parts and Wholes"
Other
Philosophers of biology have been contending over the metaphysical status of species for some time now. The dominant view, Species-as-Individuals (SAI), has it that species are concrete particulars composed of organisms. Though popular, the view faces myriad metaphysical difficulties…
Garrett Cullity (University of Adelaide), "Acts, Omissions, Emissions"
Other
What requirements does morality impose on us in relation to climate change? This question can be asked of individuals, of the entire global population, and of groups of various sizes in between. Given the case for accepting that we all collectively ought to be causing less climate-affecting…
Matthew Chrisman (Edinburgh), "'Ought' and Control" **FRIDAY**
Other
Ethical theorists often assume that the verb ‘ought’ means roughly ‘has an obligation to’; however, this assumption is belied by the diversity of “flavors” of ought-sentences in English. A natural initial response is that ‘ought’ is multiply ambiguous between senses which have to do with…
Scott Wisor (ANU), "Poverty Measurement: What's Gender Got To Do With It?"
Other
Poverty measurement is extremely important, but most contemporary measures of poverty are deeply flawed. One major shortcoming of all existing poverty measures is a lack of gender sensitivity, which includes but is not limited to an inability to reveal the gendered distribution of deprivation…