The Moral Psychology of Devotion (Workshop)

The Moral Psychology of Devotion May 9-10, 2024 Boston University Confirmed Speakers: Jeremy Ginges (London School of Economics, Dept. of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences) David Livingstone Smith (University of New England, Dept. of Philosophy) Sarah Paul (NYU Abu Dhabi, Dept. of Philosophy) Daryl Van Tongeren (Hope College, Dept. of Psychology) Monique Wonderly (UC San Diego, Dept. of Philosophy) Some goals, relationships, and projects require sustained, long-term, resilient commitment. In order to achieve these goals or sustain these relationships and projects, we have to persevere in the face of obstacles, challenges, and setbacks. When these commitments are especially robust and resilient, we sometimes describe people as devoted to their goals, relationships, or projects. But what exactly is devotion? When we describe a person as devoted to some goal, relationship, or project, what does this mean? Does devotion differ from standard forms of commitment in its intensity, stability, resistance to compromise, epistemic status, or deliberative weight? While philosophers and psychologists have examined commitments, resilience, grit, and other forms of long-term engagement with ends, devotion remains a relatively unexplored topic. This workshop aims to explore the moral psychology of devotion. We are especially interested in talks that connect devotion to topics in philosophical psychology or that draw on psychological research on devotion and other forms of wholehearted commitment. Talks might focus on questions including (but not limited to): How should we understand devotion? Does devotion involve a form of grit? Does it require a particular epistemic stance toward the objects of devotion? Does it involve loyalty? Which kinds of communities, activities, and relationships provide opportunities for manifesting devotion? What are the different objects and forms of devotion? Are some forms of devotion more stable than others? Might devotion be a basic motivation in human beings? If so, why? What are the consequences of failing to satisfy this motivation? What are the most natural targets for devotion?