The Research Seminar Series in Philosophy invites you to a seminar with Kalle Grill, "Non-discrimination as a filter on reasons".
In academic scholarship, the property of being discriminatory is ascribed either to actions, policies or laws. Typically, discrimination is thought of as a form of differential disadvantageous treatment, whether by people, organizations or institutions. I propose we reject this standard approach and instead define discrimination in terms of reasons for action, as these appear in deliberation and decision-making. The core idea is that discrimination takes place in our minds, as we consider how to treat others and are moved to treat them one way or other. While not moralized, this approach is motivated by moral concerns. The starting point is that the distinct moral wrong involved in discrimination is to be intrinsically influenced in one’s deliberation or motivational processes (conscious or unconscious) by certain group properties that are not or should not be relevant. A benefit of this conceptual approach is that non-discrimination positions and principles can be formulated as filters on what properties may justifiably operate as reasons for us, psychologically and deliberatively, when we treat some people worse than others.
All interested are welcome to attend this seminar.
This seminar is intended primarily for presentations of PhD work and other research in philosophy conducted at the Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies. Guest lectures sometimes take place in the seminar as well. The seminars are given in English and all interested are welcome to attend these events.
Learn more about the seminar series in Philosophy and upcoming events
