Professor Richard Holton

Wednesday 3 June 2015, 6-7.15pm followed by a reception
The British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AH

Download lecture handout (PDF file - 104 KB)

Chaired by: Professor Jane Heal FBA, University of Cambridge

'We don’t torture' announced both Bush and Obama. But what Bush meant as a statement of fact, Obama meant as a resolution. Exploring this example, this lecture examined how moral resolutions work to overcome the rationalizations that temptation engenders. This in turn shone light on the nature of our moral concepts. Resolutions are typically framed using intentional notions (torture; murder; theft). Reflection on the reasons for this reveals what is right, and what is wrong, about the doctrine of double effect.

About the speaker:
Richard Holton was educated at Oxford and Princeton, and has taught in many places, most recently MIT and Cambridge. He is the author of Willing, Wanting Waiting (OUP 2009). His current work is mainly in philosophy of mind, moral psychology and the philosophy of law.

We Don't Torture: Moral Resolve and the Doctrine of Double Effect

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