Title

Moral agency, self-consciousness, and practical wisdom

Authors

Authors

S. Gallagher

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

Abbreviated Journal Title

J. Conscious. Stud.

Keywords

INFANTS; PERCEPTION; SIMULATION; IMITATION; CHILDREN; REPRESENTATIONS; INTENTIONS; EXECUTION; DREYFUS; OTHERS; Philosophy; Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary

Abstract

This paper argues that self-consciousness and moral agency depend crucially on both embodied and social aspects of human existence, and that the capacity for practical wisdom, phronesis, is central to moral personhood. The nature of practical wisdom is elucidated by drawing on rival analyses of expertise. Although ethical expertise and practical wisdom differ importantly, they are alike in that we can acquire them only in interaction with other persons and through habituation. The analysis of moral agency and practical wisdom is framed by Dennett's proposal that moral personhood requires satisfaction of six conditions, including self-consciousness.

Journal Title

Journal of Consciousness Studies

Volume

14

Issue/Number

5-6

Publication Date

1-1-2007

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

199

Last Page

223

WOS Identifier

WOS:000246944500010

ISSN

1355-8250

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