Philosophy 632A

Graduate Seminar: Individual Responsibility in Collective Contexts

Tuesdays 9-noon, TC310

September-December 2002

Instructor: Tracy Isaacs

E-mail: tisaacs@uwo.ca

Office Hours: TC435 Tuesdays 2-3 p.m.

When we think about our individual actions as taking place in a collective setting, they may take on a moral significance that they would not otherwise have. For example, when I think of the impact of the environment of just my running my air conditioning or driving my car on a “smog alert” day, it’s minimal. Doing my part is meaningless unless others do theirs as well. My contribution to the harm seems neglible as well. As an individual, I can hardly be responsible for the quality of the air. Yet we may think in addition that, as an individual, I do have a responsibility to do my part. Is that obligation conditional upon whether others do their parts? If I am part of a blameworthy collective, am I blameworthy as an individual? This course will explore the relationship between collective action, individual action, and individual responsibility. The focal point of the course will be Christopher Kutz’s recent book, Complicity: Ethics and Law for a Collective Age. We shall also read a variety of articles on collective action theory and moral responsibility by a number of philosophers, including Margaret Gilbert, Michael Bratman, Larry May, David Copp, Margaret Urban Walker, and Peter French.

Required Readings:

Christopher Kutz. Complicity: Ethics and Law for a Collective Age (Cambridge University Press, 2000).

Articles that will be made available in the journal library for photocopying. A detailed schedule of readings will be distributed at the first meeting.

Requirements:

10 weekly commentaries, 2 pages each (20%). These commentaries must be ready prior to the class for which they are prepared, and will be used as a basis for discussion. They will be due at the end of the class, to be graded and returned the following week.

1 term paper, conference submission length (12-14 pages, 70%). 1 commentary on someone else’s term paper (4-5 pages, 10%). I’m hoping that we’ll be able to arrange a mini-conference where you can present your papers and commentaries to the class. We’ll discuss this on the first day, and try to set a date for it.

This outline is subject to change with sufficient notice.