Sarah Zager (St. Olaf College), "‘But I'm really a good person!’: Jewish Thought, Moral Responsibility, and Contemporary Moral Discourse"

Sarah Zager is a scholar of philosophy, religion, and Jewish thought. Her teaching and research focuses on how Jewish thought can contribute to contemporary debates in moral philosophy and feminist thought. She is currently assistant professor of religion at St. Olaf College.

Claims like “But, I’m a good person,” or “But, I just didn’t break any rules,” or “Say what you will, he’s a family man,” pervade public discourse about how to respond to moral wrongs, especially those rooted in racism and misogyny. This talk explores the structure and history of these kinds of unsatisfying responses to moral wrongs. I show that this pattern is actually grounded in a philosophical movement which has tried to separate a person’s character from their specific actions, and I argue that this philosophical movement is rooted in anti-Judaism. Using ideas from Maimonides, Moses Mendeslsohn and the Musar movement, I show that Jewish thought offers resources for addressing these kinds of moral dodges, thereby enriching public moral discussion.

To register for this event, go to http://tiny.utk.edu/zager26.