Plato argued that theoretical reflection can lead us out of the metaphorical cave of a distorted understanding of reality up into a clear, undistorted understanding of what is real. Paul Hurley, professor of philosophy at CMC, will make the case, by contrast, that when it comes to making good choices reflecting what is truly valuable, theoretical reflection has more recently led us in the opposite direction – down into a cave of manipulation and alienation. Drawing upon central themes in his 2024 book, “Against the Tyranny of Outcomes”, Hurley argues that the default accounts of how to decide what we should do—those provided by philosophy, economics, and public policy—alienate us from good reasons for acting and the values they reflect. They invite manipulation of self and others and lead us to deep inauthenticity in our interactions—to acting and interacting for bad reasons. Hurley will draw upon examples in politics (democracy), law (torts), and everyday life (friends, lying) to make vivid the potentially corrosive effects of these accounts on who we are and what we value, and demonstrate that once we are aware of the threat, we can also avoid it, leading more authentic and less manipulated lives.
Paul Hurley is the Sexton Professor of Philosophy at Claremont McKenna College. The central focus of his scholarship over the past two decades is the moral theory known as consequentialism, of which utilitarianism is one variant, together with the distinctive conception of reasons that accompanies it. Although this moral theory and the accompanying conception of reasons has been adopted as the default in philosophy, law, policy, and the social sciences, Hurley has argued, in dozens of articles and books (most recently his Against the Tyranny of Outcomes, 2024), that this approach is nonetheless deeply misguided, alienating us from good reasons that reflect what is truly important, and licensing dangerous manipulation, both of ourselves and of others.
In recognition of his work with students, Hurley has received the Apple for the Teacher Award (University of Pittsburgh), the Wig Distinguished Teaching Award (Pomona College, 3 times), and the Huntoon and Senior Huntoon Teaching Awards (Claremont McKenna College).
