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July 23, 2004|Volume 32, Number 33|Five-Week Issue



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Shelly Kagan



Shelly Kagan named Clark Professor
of Philosophy

Shelly Kagan, the newly named Clark Professor of Philosophy, is a noted scholar of moral philosophy, ethics, and social and political philosophy.

His two books, "The Limits of Morality" (1989) and "Normative Ethics" (1998) are used in philosophy courses around the world. In the former, Kagan critiques so-called "ordinary morality" -- the view that there are limits to what morality can impose on humans -- and defends the doctrine of classical utilitarianism, which holds that people are morally obliged, without limit, to do as much good as they can.

In "Normative Ethics," the philosopher examines how to judge the rightness or wrongness of actions, exploring such factors as consequences, harm and consent. This book was selected by Choice as an "Outstanding Academic Book" for 1998.

Kagan's numerous articles have stimulated national discussion about issues of ethics and morality. His most recent work focuses on the development of a theory of the good -- exploring such topics as the nature of well being, the concept of intrinsic value and problems involving ranking worlds with infinite amounts of utility. He is currently working on a book titled "The Geometry of Desert."

Kagan's Yale courses have included an exploration of such subjects as ethics and normative ethics, utopia and death.

Kagan holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Princeton University. He taught at the University of Pittsburgh 1981-1986 and then served on the University of Illinois at Chicago faculty for nine years before joining the Yale faculty as the Henry R. Luce Professor of Social Thought and Ethics in 1995.

As a Luce Scholar, he has held joint appointments in the philosophy department and in ethics, politics and economics.

The philosopher was a senior fellow at the Institute for the Humanities at the University of Illinois at Chicago 1987-1988. He has been an invited lecturer and conference presenter at universities throughout the nation and for numerous scholarly associations. He serves on the editorial board of Ethics.


T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

Gift from alumnus helps fund new home for F&ES

Team learns how bacteria evades body's defenses

Grants will advance research on important health issues

Brain power

ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS

Wimbledon winner, future Olympians to compete in Pilot Pen tournament

IN FOCUS: Yale Health Plan

Works by Cuban artists on view in 'Intersections/Intersecciones' exhibit

Bouchet Award recognizes scientist's effort to promote diversity

F&ES hosts delegation from China

Deserts, rainforests equally productive during drought, says study

EPA certificate of recognition awarded to Yale power plant

IN MEMORIAM: Edmund Slocum Crelin Jr.: newborn anatomy expert

CANCER CENTER APPOINTMENTS

Researchers receive grants for studies on women's health issues

New 'advocates' for theater are named to council

Genetics professor wins award to study prostate cancer . . .

Nursing professor Kathleen Knafl to chair group . . .

Art Gallery's new development director to head . . .

Yale Books in Brief

Campus Notes


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