This essay examines and criticizes a set of Kantian objections to Parfit’s attempt in Reasons and Persons to connect his theory of personal identity to practical rationality and moral philosophy. Several of Parfit’s critics have tried to sever the link he forges between his metaphysical and practical conclusions by invoking the Kantian thought that even if we accept his metaphysical theory of p...

An important aspect of moral expertise is sensitivity, which the ability to be sensitive presence morally salient features in a context. This requires being able see and acquire relevant information, as well organise interpret it, so that you can undertake related work judgement, focus (or motivation) action. As distinct but interrelated component ethical expertise, sensitivity must trained edu...

With all due respect for my SLU colleague for whom no drafts are " rough " , this is a " rough " draft. Much remains to be done to complete the argument of this paper. I will be grateful for all comments, but please do not quote at this stage of development.

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Many applied or practical ethicists hold that ethical theories have little value in practical ethics. The theories such critics have in mind are probably most often utilitarianism and a Kantian ethics of respect for persons, which I shall refer to as RP theory. This criticism applies to both practical ethics done in the classroom and in other venues, such as professional publication. The critic...

The paper presents some considerations concerning the role of consciousness as a privileged state in nature which has implications for ethics. Especially in the modern talk about consciousness of human beings or animals since Thomas Nagel (1974) or Peter Singer (1975) we find discussions about the role of consciousness as an important irreducible and ‘higher’ phenomenon connected with a first p...

As Charles Weijer has pointed out, the case of Terri Schiavo involved a family conflict regarding end-of-life decisionmaking. This irreconcilable conflict resulted in a series of judicial interventions that were a rerun, with some differences, of the Karen Ann Quinlan, Nancy Beth Cruzan and other wellknown cases. Nowadays, many hospitals rely on clinical ethicists, ethics committees or mediator...