2023/2024

The Profoundest Problem in Ethics

Handling Practical Reasons in Conflict (PROFOUND)

Humanities
Balancing rocks. Source: Adobe Stock.

Principal investigators

Mathea Slåttholm Sagdahl

Senior Lecturer
University of Oslo (UiO)
Year at CAS
Research Area
Philosophy

Attila Geza Tanyi

Professor
UiT The Arctic University of Norway (UiT)
Year at CAS

Abstract

PROFOUND addresses a fundamental problem in ethics: conflicts between moral and prudential reasons. The Standard View is that one can resolve such conflicts by comparing the relative strengths of reasons, and by this type of weighing determine what we ought to do all things considered. However, little work has been done to tell us in what way, if any, such comparisons can be made and weights assigned. PROFOUND will challenge the Standard View and the weighing model for determining what we ought to do. PROFOUND will also be constructively concerned to examine and provide alternatives to the Standard View.

Fellows

Ruth Chang

Professor
University of Oxford
Year at CAS

David Copp

Distinguished Professor, Emeritus
University of California, Davis
Year at CAS
Research Area
Philosophy

Joshua Gert

Professor
College of William & Mary
Year at CAS
Research Area
Philosophy

Fredrik Nyseth

Senior Lecturer
UiT The Arctic University of Norway (UiT)
Year at CAS
Research Area
Philosophy

Andrew Reisner

Professor
Uppsala University
Year at CAS
Research Area
Philosophy

Caj Strandberg

Professor
University of Oslo (UiO)
Year at CAS
Research Area
Philosophy

Sarah Stroud

Professor
University of North Carolina
Year at CAS
Research Area
Ethics /
Philosophy

Frans Svensson

Senior Lecturer
University of Gothenburg
Year at CAS
Research Area
Philosophy

Affiliated researchers

Chrisoula
Andreou

Professor
University of Utah

Vuko
Andrić

Dr.
Linköping University

Ivar Russøy
Labukt

Associate Professor
UiT The Arctic University of Norway (UiT)

David
Sobel

Professor
Syracuse University

News

Over the past year, CAS has hosted Professor Attila Tanyi and Senior Lecturer Mathea Slåttholm Sagdahl, along with their team of researchers, for the project "The Profoundest Problem in Ethics" (PROFOUND). This ambitious project delved into the intricate conflicts between moral and prudential reasons, a theme that challenges conventional approaches in philosophical research.

Throughout this month, CAS has been abuzz with intellectual exchange, hosting a series of three captivating lunch seminars featuring esteemed speakers from this year's project leaders.

In a recent interview featured on forskning.no, one of this year's project leaders, philosopher Mathea Slåttholm Sagdahl, who co-leads the CAS project 'The Profoundest Problem in Ethics (PROFOUND)' with Attila Tanyi, delves into the often complex relationship between moral obligations and personal interests.