Department of Philosophy Colloquium: "Charity as Virtue and Principle in Argumentation"

Fri, Jan 30, 2026 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm

The Department of Philosophy Colloquium Series presents:

"Charity as Virtue and Principle in Argumentation"

Speaker: Tracy Bowell (University of Waikato)
Friday, Jan. 30 | 3:30 - 5 p.m.
University Hall B716

Abstract: In this presentation I pursue the question of whether charity is an argumentative virtue and, if so, what, if any, is its relationship to the Principle of Charity? Along the way, I also address the questions of what charitable arguing would look like in practice and whether there would be a corresponding argumentative vice. I examine whether or not cultivating an argumentative virtue of charity could enhance our application of the Principle of Charity. I consider objections to the status of the Principle of Charity as an argumentative norm and examine how the inclusion of a virtue of charity in our account of arguing well can offer a response to those objections.

Room or Area:

B716