Moral agency, self-consciousness, and practical wisdom

    Authors

    S. Gallagher

    Comments

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    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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