Institute for Classical Studies Guest Lecture
Nancy Sherman (Georgetown): ‘The Angry Sage’
Friday, 26 September 5-7pm
Bloomsbury Room, G35, Ground Floor, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU
This guest lecture by Nancy Sherman (Georgetown) begins with the question: Is there a foothold, or even a toehold, in Stoic and Kantian texts for developing an account of moral anger? In the Stoic tradition, the overall normative demand is modelled on the character and conduct of a good and wise person, the sage. Can the Stoic sage feel moral anger as part of how full virtue is expressed? Aristotle argues that anger can be apt. But do the Stoics agree that some forms of moral anger are compatible with the “good” emotions characteristic of full virtue? Given Kant’s Stoicizing tendencies at various junctures in his account of virtue, and even his appeal to the model of the Stoic sage, does he leave room for moral anger in the work of virtue? Or is anger on his view simply one more “pathological” affect that can never be responsive to the requirements of the moral law?
This talk is in person only and no registration is required to attend.
Details here.