Siegel on felt reasons, Dostoevsky, and The Brothers Karamazov
Join this event to hear David Bakhurst explore how felt reasons bring philosophical questions to life and show that reasons matter.
Siegel on felt reasons, Dostoevsky, and The Brothers Karamazov
20 Mar 2024, 17:30 – 19:15
In a striking article on the pedagogical significance of The Brothers Karamazov, Harvey Siegel argues that, in its treatment of ‘the problem of evil’, Dostoevsky’s novel presents reasons to us in a way that has a ‘visceral quality’.
Theories of rationality and critical thinking must countenance such ‘felt reasons’, which engage and excite us in ways dry philosophical argument does not. David explores the merits and shortcomings of Siegel’s position and how we need a still more radical conception of apprehending reasons than Siegel countenances.
This in-person event will be particularly useful for those interested in the philosophy of education, particularly about reason, rationality and the role of literature in education.
PESGB seminar series
This event is part of the Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain (PESGB) seminar series. PESGB is a learned society that promotes the study, teaching and application of philosophy of education. Its London Branch hosts seminars every Wednesday in conjunction with the Centre for Philosophy of Education. These seminars are led by national and international scholars in the field, covering a wide range of issues of educational and philosophical concern.
All are welcome to attend.
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David Bakhurst
George Whalley Distinguished University Professor at Queen’s University, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
He has written on Soviet philosophical culture and in addition to continuing his work on Russian thought, has written on epistemology, metaphysics, Wittgenstein, ethics, and philosophy of education.