1. Briefly summarize in your own words the central argument in Kennett’s ‘Autism, Empathy and Moral Agency’.

Tutorial Questions for Week 8

Kennett (2003), argues that psychopaths have for a along time been the center of interest inthe field of moral philosophy. However, there are certainlimitations in thepsychopath theory that undermine the full development of moral agency philosophy.After a careful examination of the theoretical shortcomings, it emergesthat there are variousnotable hurdles are responsible forthe underdevelopment of the moral agency institution.For autistic people, the inability to detect the motivation of others renders them incompetent both at deciphering deception and engaging in intellectual activities. The social handicap aspects that characterize the autism prevent the people from forming any lasting interpersonal relationships.This is why the autistic people lack the key human dispositions such as jealousy, cheating, lying and vengeance.
Kennett (2003) also notes that in most cases, the conduct of the autistic people is not self-developed. Rather, the condition is further worsened the literal nature of their thinking. Empathy, in this case, refers to emotional response towards the feelings and behaviors of others. It is highly valued in the society becauseit is the corehuman aspect that providesthe people with the means of understanding andpredicting the social world. Research on children, for example, has showed that empathetic function is crucial for development of social competence or pro-social behavior. Surprisingly, people who are autistic are fully aware that they have some peculiar behaviors that prevent them from social communication. As Kennett (2003), puts it, this is an aspect that further reinforce their sense of outsider status. Another notable thing is that for high functioning autistic adults, autonomy is achievable through other means.This includes using reason to develop one’s moral rules and principles.

Core Readings
Kennett, Jeanette: (2002) “Autism Empathy and Moral Agency” The Philosophical Quarterly, Vol. 52, No. 208, pp. 340-357.
Victoria McGeer (2008) “The Varieties of Moral Agency” in Sinnott-Armstrong (ed) Moral Psychology Volume 3 The Neuroscience of Morality: Emotion, Brain Disorders and Development. Bradford Books, MIT Press, pp. 227-256.

Tutorial Questions for Week 9

3. “Diseases are physico-chemical phenomena or processes–for example, the abnormal metabolism of glucose (diabetes). Mental diseases are patterns of personal conduct, unwanted by the self or others. Psychopathology is diagnosed by finding behavioral, not physical, abnormalities in bodies.”(Szasz, ‘Mental Disorders are not Diseases’, 2000. http://www.szasz.com/usatoday.html)
Do you agree with Szasz that the way in which value judgments feature in our identification and diagnosis of mental illnesses means that such conditions are very different from physical illnesses and that they should be understood in terms of ‘problems in living’ rather than brain diseases? Why/Why not?

Tutorial Questions for Week 4
3. In what sense do rational actor theory and psychological egoism pose a threat to ordinary notions of morality and moral motivation?
The two theories that is psychological egoism and also rational choice theory tends to be based on understandings and also offering various forms of motivations. In this case, various characters might go against these theories to please some sections hence leading to the disorientation of this form of moral norms.
Core Readings
J. Bennett (1974) “The Conscience of Huckleberry Finn,” Philosophy, Volume 49, 188, pp. 123-134.
Kristen R. Monroe, Michael C Barton and Ute Klingemann (1990) “Altruism and the Theory of Rational Action: Rescuers of Jews in Nazi Europe,” Ethics Vol. 101, No. 1, pp. 103-122.