180176 SE Dewey's ethics (2022S)

Please note: the blocked format of this seminar demands intensive literature work especially within the first weeks and during the semester.

This block seminar is built around a recently published book on John Dewey’s ethical theory. It explores wide-ranging and contemporary interpretations on the moral philosophy of the American pragmatist. Still today, Dewey counts as one of the most influential thinkers in western philosophy in the 20th century. In his 1932 Ethics, he addresses a variety of questions that concern shortcomings of traditional moral theories. In a pragmatist manner, he explores the connection of theory and practice and our role in thinking about this. Thereby Dewey questions common understandings of key concepts in moral philosophy, aiming to present an ethical theory tailored to needs arising in an ever-changing world. The book provides both a contextualization of Dewey’s work and discusses his main arguments and their reach for today’s discourse.
Due to its blocked format, the seminar will start off with extensive literature work on the book over the first weeks. From this shared basis on, the seminar group will be divided into research groups of 3-4 persons pursuing their individual research focus further. Within the research groups, a systematic literature research will be conducted and interpreted in a literature review portraying a selected research field. From there, individual research proposals will be drafted, which will be intensively discussed and worked on during the blocked stay (outside of Vienna) at the end of the semester. This research stay is planned to take place in Salzburg at the animal sanctuary “Gut Aiderbichl”.

The seminar officially concludes by submitting a revised and reviewed version of the research proposal in form of an extended abstract. Thus, this seminar aims to set up its participants to conduct systematic research in form of an intensive research project, such as a MA thesis, by running through the basic steps: formulating a research question, conducting systematic literature search, drafting a research proposal, and using discussions to specifically improve it. The blocked format consists of one introductory session, two sessions to discuss the literature and to prepare the research stay outside of Vienna. Costs for accommodation will be covered, but participants are expected to pay for individual meals during the stay and transport to accommodation (approximately 60 €). There will be vegan and vegetarian options available.