Jonathan Peter Dancy FBA (born 8 May 1946) is a British philosopher, who has written on ethics and epistemology. He is currently Professor of Philosophy at University of Texas at Austin and Research Professor at the University of Reading. He taught previously for many years at the University of Keele.
Jonathan Dancy | |
|---|---|
 Dancy in 2013 | |
| Born | Jonathan Peter Dancy 8 May 1946 |
| Spouse | Sarah Birley (m. 1973) |
| Children | 3, including Hugh |
| Era | Contemporary philosophy |
| Region | Western philosophy |
| School | Analytic |
Main interests | Moral theory |
Notable ideas | Moral particularism |
Education and career
Dancy is the son of John Christopher Dancy. He was educated at Winchester College, where he was Head Boy and played cricket for the school, and Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he obtained a double first in classics (1965–7: Classical Honour Moderations: First Class Honours; 1967–9: Literae Humaniores: First Class Honours, BA).
After graduating he served as a lecturer at Pembroke College, Oxford for a year. In 1971 he became a lecturer at Keele University, becoming professor there in 1991.
After his daughter-in-law, American actress Claire Danes, mentioned him during an appearance on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Dancy appeared as a guest on the programme on 1 April 2010.
He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2016.
Philosophical work
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.
Dancy 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's writings and dedicated a book to the Anglo-Irish thinker.
Personal life
In 1973 he married Sarah Birley; they have three children: the actor Hugh Dancy; Jack Dancy, who runs a travel company; and Kate Redman, who works for UNESCO.
Selected publications
Articles
- "On Moral Properties", Mind, 1981, XC, pp. 367–385.
- “Ethical Particularism and Morally Relevant Properties.” Mind, 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.
- Dancy, Jonathan (July 2000). "Intention and permissibility: Jonathan Dancy". Aristotelian Society, Supplementary Volume. 74 (1): 319–338. doi:10.1111/1467-8349.00074.
- See also: Scanlon, T.M. (July 2000). "Intention and permissibility: T. M. Scanlon". Aristotelian Society, Supplementary Volume. 74 (1): 301–317. doi:10.1111/1467-8349.00073. Pdf.
- “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
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.
- Practical Shape. A Theory of Practical Reasoning, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018.
Books (editor)
- Perceptual Knowledge, Oxford: OUP, 1988.
- Reading Parfit, Oxford : Blackwell,1997.
- Normativity (Ratio conference 1998) Oxford : Blackwell, 2000.
- Philosophy of Action: An Anthology (with Constantine Sandis) Oxford : Wiley-Blackwell, 2015.
References
- "Jonathan Dancy". What Is It Like to Be a Philosopher?.
- "Jonathan Dancy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- Jonathan Dancy - Claire Danes' Father In Law, The Moral Philosopher - His Only Appearance [720p] on YouTube
- "British Academy announces new President and elects 66 new Fellows". 15 July 2016.
- Parigi, Silvia. "Berkeley Bibliography (1979-2010)". Archived from the original on 3 July 2013.
External links
- Jonathan Dancy faculty page on the University of Texas at Austin Department of Philosophy website
- "Moral Particularism" – Dancy's article in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
- Autobiographical interview with Dancy – What Is It Like to Be a Philosopher?
- "Jonathan Dancy on Moral Particularism" – an episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast
Jonathan Peter Dancy FBA born 8 May 1946 is a British philosopher who has written on ethics and epistemology He is currently Professor of Philosophy at University of Texas at Austin and Research Professor at the University of Reading He taught previously for many years at the University of Keele Jonathan DancyFBADancy in 2013BornJonathan Peter Dancy 1946 05 08 8 May 1946 age 78 SpouseSarah Birley m 1973 wbr Children3 including HughEraContemporary philosophyRegionWestern philosophySchoolAnalyticMain interestsMoral theoryNotable ideasMoral particularismEducation and careerDancy is the son of John Christopher Dancy He was educated at Winchester College where he was Head Boy and played cricket for the school and Corpus Christi College Oxford where he obtained a double first in classics 1965 7 Classical Honour Moderations First Class Honours 1967 9 Literae Humaniores First Class Honours BA After graduating he served as a lecturer at Pembroke College Oxford for a year In 1971 he became a lecturer at Keele University becoming professor there in 1991 After his daughter in law American actress Claire Danes mentioned him during an appearance on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson Dancy appeared as a guest on the programme on 1 April 2010 He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2016 Philosophical workAfter 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 Dancy 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 s writings and dedicated a book to the Anglo Irish thinker Personal lifeIn 1973 he married Sarah Birley they have three children the actor Hugh Dancy Jack Dancy who runs a travel company and Kate Redman who works for UNESCO Selected publicationsArticles On Moral Properties Mind 1981 XC pp 367 385 Ethical Particularism and Morally Relevant Properties Mind 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 Dancy Jonathan July 2000 Intention and permissibility Jonathan Dancy Aristotelian Society Supplementary Volume 74 1 319 338 doi 10 1111 1467 8349 00074 See also Scanlon T M July 2000 Intention and permissibility T M Scanlon Aristotelian Society Supplementary Volume 74 1 301 317 doi 10 1111 1467 8349 00073 Pdf dd 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 PhilosophyBooks 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 Practical Shape A Theory of Practical Reasoning Oxford Oxford University Press 2018 Books editor Perceptual Knowledge Oxford OUP 1988 Reading Parfit Oxford Blackwell 1997 Normativity Ratio conference 1998 Oxford Blackwell 2000 Philosophy of Action An Anthology with Constantine Sandis Oxford Wiley Blackwell 2015 References Jonathan Dancy What Is It Like to Be a Philosopher Jonathan Dancy Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 16 January 2015 Jonathan Dancy Claire Danes Father In Law The Moral Philosopher His Only Appearance 720p on YouTube British Academy announces new President and elects 66 new Fellows 15 July 2016 Parigi Silvia Berkeley Bibliography 1979 2010 Archived from the original on 3 July 2013 External linksJonathan Dancy faculty page on the University of Texas at Austin Department of Philosophy website Moral Particularism Dancy s article in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Autobiographical interview with Dancy What Is It Like to Be a Philosopher Jonathan Dancy on Moral Particularism an episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast
