Taking Pregnancy Seriously in Metaphysics II: Identity and Persistence Event

About the Workshop

Although philosophers have explored issues related to pregnancy – most obviously abortion and the value and metaphysics of coming into existence – little philosophical attention has been paid to pregnancy itself. That is a remarkable omission because pregnancy raises important philosophical problems in metaphysics, ethics and epistemology: should the foetus be regarded as part of or ‘merely surrounded by’ the mother? If persons can be parts of other persons, what does this imply for bodily ownership and personal and numerical identity? What special rights and duties does the unique status of pregnancy bestow? Does the radically transformative character of pregnancy mean that those who have never been pregnant are excluded from certain kinds of knowledge about pregnancy and its consequences? This workshop explores the implications of pregnancy for personal identity and personal ontology.

This workshop is last one in a series of four in the project 'Taking Pregnancy Seriously in Metaphysics, Ethics and Epistemology' funded by the Southampton Ethics Centre and the University of Southampton ‘Adventures in Research’ Scheme, with additional support from the Aristotelian Society. It was preceded by two workshop on 'Taking Pregnancy Seriously in Ethics and Epistemology' on the 18th of June 2014 and the 13th of April 2015 and one workshop 'Taking Pregnancy Seriously in Metaphysics I' on the 21st of July .

Speakers and Abstracts

Lynne Baker (Amherst)
A puzzle about pregnancy: first there is one person, then there are two

Victoria Brown (Oxford Brookes)
Aristotelian Teleology and the Philosophy of Pregnancy Loss

Elselijn Kingma (Southampton)
Budding Humans? Pregnancy and Identity

Steinvör Árnadóttir (Stirling)
On the metaphysical implications of the part-whole view

Program

09:30	Registration and Coffee (North Corridor)
09:50	Introductory Remarks
10:00-11:20	Victoria Brown (Oxford Brookes) 'Aristotelian Teleology and the Philosophy of Pregnancy Loss'
11:20-11:30	Short break
11:30-12:50	Elselijn Kingma (Southampton) 'Budding Humans?  Pregnancy & Identity'
12:50-14:00	Lunch (North Corridor) (only if pre-paid: lunch can also be bought from the café)
14:00-15:20	Lynne Baker (Amherst) 'A Puzzle about Pregnancy:  First there is One Person, then there are Two'
15:20-15:50	Tea Break (North Corridor)
15:50-17:10	Steinvör Árnadóttir (Stirling) 'Fetus in Utero: a Bun in an Oven or a Tail on a Cat?'
17:10-17:30	Round-up
17:30	Drinks at 'The Goat', 47 Highfield Lane, Southampton, SO17 1QD
19:00	Dinner at 'The Goat', 47 Highfield Lane, Southampton, SO17 1QD

Organisers

Elselijn Kingma - [email protected]
Fiona Woollard - [email protected]

Further Information

Registration

Registration is free for delegates and will include tea/coffee/refreshments, but delegates must provide/ pay for their own meals and accommodation.

Lunch: We will arrange for a cold buffet lunch at the workshop venue. If you would like to sign up for this lunch (cost: GBP 8.50), then click the relevant option when registering and pay in advance. We will already be catering for vegetarians but please e-mail the organisers if there are any other dietary requirements. Alternatively there is the option to buy lunch at the small cafeteria on campus, or you can bring your own lunch.

Dinner: we will go out to dinner at a local restaurant after the workshop. We will contact you nearer to the time with the details, and give you the chance to sign up for this.

Please register no later than the 10th of September via the online store.

Childcare

If you would like to attend but childcare duties render your attendance difficult, please contact the organisers (as far in advance as possible).

Accessibility

This workshop is being held in Building 65, room 1173, which is situated in the North Corridor.   If you have any questions or requests, please contact Fiona Woollard as soon as possible who we will make the necessary accommodations.

Accommodation

Participants at the conference, booking through Southampton University, are eligible for the following discounted rates at local hotels:

Elizabeth House Hotel - £66.50
Highfield House Hotel - £65.00
(Prices for single room, bed and breakfast)

To take advantage of these rates please email Lisa Bryan , who will book a room for you at the discounted rate.  Please mention this workshop, giving your name, required dates of stay, and dietary requirements.

For alternative accommodation please click here .

Directions

The Workshop will be held at our Avenue Campus. For directions to the Avenue Campus and travel advice please click here .

For international travel advice please click here .

If you come by car and would like a parking permit, please contact the organisers.

About the Project

Although philosophers have explored issues related to pregnancy – most obviously abortion and the value and metaphysics of coming into existence – little philosophical attention has been paid to pregnancy itself. That is a remarkable omission because pregnancy raises important philosophical problems in metaphysics, ethics and epistemology: should the foetus be regarded as part of or ‘merely surrounded by’ the mother? If persons can be parts of other persons, what does this imply for bodily ownership and personal and numerical identity? What special rights and duties does the unique status of pregnancy bestow? Does the radically transformative character of pregnancy mean that those who have never been pregnant are excluded from certain kinds of knowledge about pregnancy and its consequences?

This Research Project , funded by a University of Southampton “Adventures in Research” Grant, and with additional support from the Southampton Ethics Centre , the British Society for the Philosophy of Science and the Aristotelian Society , is organising four workshops that explore some of these questions.