Jonathan Dancy
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Peter Dancy is a British
philosopher, working on epistemology and on ethics
. He is currently Professor Emeritus at the University of Reading
and Professor of Philosophy at University of Texas at Austin
.
. After having worked on problems of epistemology, and more particularly on the nature of perception (argument from illusion
), he emerged as the leading proponent in ethics of moral particularism
, the idea that all moral reasons are particular and context-sensitive, rather than general. He also defends what he calls the holism
of reasons, namely the idea that a consideration that is a reason for acting in a certain way in one case may not be a reason for acting in that way, or even a reason for not acting in that way, in other cases. In this sense, reasons are context-dependent. Dancy argues that the holism of reasons provides a major support for the main claim of his particularism, i.e., that there are no moral principles but that morality can get on perfectly well without them. Dancy edited some of George Berkeley
writings and dedicated a book to the Anglo-Irish
thinker. After mention by his daughter-in-law Claire Danes
during her appearance on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
, Dancy appeared on the program on 1 April 2010.
, where he was Head Boy
and played cricket for the school, and Corpus Christi College, Oxford
, where he obtained a double first in classics. He and his wife Sarah have three children, one of whom is the actor Hugh Dancy
, husband of actress Claire Danes
.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
philosopher, working on epistemology and on ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
. He is currently Professor Emeritus at the University of Reading
University of Reading
The University of Reading is a university in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. The University was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926. It is based on several campuses in, and around, the town of Reading.The University has a long tradition...
and Professor of Philosophy at University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
.
Biography
In 1971 he became a lecturer at Keele UniversityKeele University
Keele University is a campus university near Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England. Founded in 1949 as an experimental college dedicated to a broad curriculum and interdisciplinary study, Keele is most notable for pioneering the dual honours degree in Britain...
. After having worked on problems of epistemology, and more particularly on the nature of perception (argument from illusion
Argument from illusion
The argument from illusion is an argument for the existence of sense-data. It is posed as a criticism of direct realism. Naturally occurring illusions best illustrate the argument's points, a notable example concerning a stick: I have a stick, which appears to me to be straight, but when I hold it...
), he emerged as the leading proponent in ethics of moral particularism
Moral particularism
Moral particularism is the view that there are no moral principles and that moral judgement can be found only as one decides particular cases, either real or imagined. This stands in stark contrast to other prominent moral theories, such as deontology or utilitarianism...
, the idea that all moral reasons are particular and context-sensitive, rather than general. He also defends what he calls the holism
Holism
Holism is the idea that all the properties of a given system cannot be determined or explained by its component parts alone...
of reasons, namely the idea that a consideration that is a reason for acting in a certain way in one case may not be a reason for acting in that way, or even a reason for not acting in that way, in other cases. In this sense, reasons are context-dependent. Dancy argues that the holism of reasons provides a major support for the main claim of his particularism, i.e., that there are no moral principles but that morality can get on perfectly well without them. Dancy edited some of George Berkeley
George Berkeley
George Berkeley , also known as Bishop Berkeley , was an Irish philosopher whose primary achievement was the advancement of a theory he called "immaterialism"...
writings and dedicated a book to the Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish was a term used primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries to identify a privileged social class in Ireland, whose members were the descendants and successors of the Protestant Ascendancy, mostly belonging to the Church of Ireland, which was the established church of Ireland until...
thinker. After mention by his daughter-in-law Claire Danes
Claire Danes
Claire Catherine Danes is an American actress of television, stage and film. She has appeared in roles as diverse as Angela Chase in My So-Called Life, as Juliet in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet, as Kate Brewster in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, as Yvaine in Stardust and as Temple Grandin in...
during her appearance on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson is a Peabody Award-winning American late-night talk show hosted by Scottish American comedian Craig Ferguson. Ferguson, the third regular host of the Late Late Show franchise, follows Late Show with David Letterman in the CBS late-night lineup...
, Dancy appeared on the program on 1 April 2010.
Articles
- "On Moral Properties", MindMind (journal)Mind is a British journal, currently published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Mind Association, which deals with philosophy in the analytic tradition...
, 1981, XC, pp. 367–385. - “Ethical Particularism and Morally Relevant Properties.” MindMind (journal)Mind is a British journal, currently published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Mind Association, which deals with philosophy in the analytic tradition...
, n.s.; 92, 368 (Oct., 1983): 530 – 547. - “The Role of Imaginary Cases in Ethics.” Pacific Philosophical Quarterly, 66 (1985): 141 – 153.
- “An Ethic of Prima Facie Duties.” In A Companion to Ethics, ed. Peter Singer. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 1991. 219 – 229.
- “Can a Particularist Learn the Difference Between Right and Wrong?” In The Proceedings of the Twentieth World Congress of Philosophy, vol. 1, ed. K. Brinkmann. Bowling Green, OH: Philosophy Documentation Center, 1999. 59 – 72.
- “The Particularist’s Progress.” In Moral Particularism, ed. Brad Hooker and Margaret Olivia Little. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2000. 130 – 156.
- "Moral Particularism" in the Stanford Online Encyclopedia of Philosophy at http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-particularism/
Books (author)
- An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology, Oxford: Blackwell, 1985.
- Berkeley: An Introduction, Oxford: Blackwell, 1987.
- Moral Reasons, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 1993.
- Practical Reality, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.
- Ethics Without Principles. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2004.
Books (editor)
- Perceptual Knowledge, Oxford: OUP, 1988.
- Reading Parfit, Oxford : Blackwell,1997.
- Normativity (Ratio conference 1998) Oxford : Blackwell, 2000.
Personal life
Dancy was educated at Winchester CollegeWinchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
, where he was Head Boy
Head boy
Head Boy and Head Girl are terms commonly used in the British education system, and in private schools throughout the Commonwealth.-United Kingdom:...
and played cricket for the school, and Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom...
, where he obtained a double first in classics. He and his wife Sarah have three children, one of whom is the actor Hugh Dancy
Hugh Dancy
- Early life and career :Dancy was born in Stoke-on-Trent, the son of British philosopher Jonathan Dancy, a professor at the University of Reading and at the University of Texas at Austin. His mother, Sarah, is a publisher. His brother, Jack, is a co-director of the travel company, Trufflepig...
, husband of actress Claire Danes
Claire Danes
Claire Catherine Danes is an American actress of television, stage and film. She has appeared in roles as diverse as Angela Chase in My So-Called Life, as Juliet in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet, as Kate Brewster in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, as Yvaine in Stardust and as Temple Grandin in...
.
External links
- Jonathan Dancy’s homepage
- "Moral Particularism" – J. Dancy's art. in Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyStanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyThe Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy is a freely-accessible online encyclopedia of philosophy maintained by Stanford University. Each entry is written and maintained by an expert in the field, including professors from over 65 academic institutions worldwide...
- Publications list