On Moral Luck

December 05, 2002 by Eric Richardson

I've posted my paper, "On Moral Luck," in verbal intercourse. It's a shorter paper, but I think it came out with a strong argument.

the intro paragraph

December 05, 2002 by Eric Richardson

I think this is one of the best I've crafted...

Every small child has an inherent knowledge of the concept of moral luck. Even Homer Simpson, the dull-witted star of animated TV, has mastered practical application of the concept. When his car's rear bumper falls off, causing mayhem for the cars behind him, Homer appeals for an analysis of his intentions, not of the result that happened to occur. "Not my fault!" he yells out the window at the chaos, "Act of God! Act of God!" Thomas Nagel deals with this issue of how moral responsibility is influenced by circumstances outside a person's control in his essay entitled "Moral Luck." Nagel's work is strong in its presentation of the internal paradox this issue presents, but falls short when it fails to differentiate between moral responsibility and criminal culpability.

simpsons and philosophy

December 05, 2002 by Eric Richardson

For the second time in my college career, I've gone to write a paper the night before it was due and absolutely failed to do so. I tried to read, and my eyes just wouldn't assent to staying open. So my philosophy paper that was due today didn't get done. It's not a real big deal... 1/3 of a letter grade. And I guarantee writing it today will make it better enough to more than make that up.

But anyway... I'm now faced with the same question I normally am, namely, do I put in a Simpsons quote? It's not a question of whether it relates, because obviously, being the Simpsons, it does. The question is really, is my dry philosophy professor going to appreciate The Simpsons, or think I'm not worthy of writing in the confusing style philosophers seem to so prefer? I think I have to go for it, and make it as academic as possible.

Action!

December 05, 2002 by Eric Richardson

Next Saturday night Trio is showing every episode of the show-lived but brilliant series Action!. I loved this show. FX showed it for a while after Fox cancelled it (two weeks or so into the season), and I was absolutely addicted. Jay Mohr is hilarious. I want them to come out with an Action! DVD set. I'd buy it in a second.

36 more hours

December 04, 2002 by Eric Richardson

If I make it through the next 36 hours I'll be golden. But in between now and then I've got much, much to do. I've made it this far, I might as well tough it out for another day and a half...

i'm going to bed

December 01, 2002 by Eric Richardson

I have a bit more writing to do before tomorrow. I'm not exactly tired, but I really don't feel like writing right now. So what do I do? I go to bed, setting my alarm to wake me up in a little under 4 1/2 hours... I am getting a semester's worth of work done in one day, though, so I guess I expect this.

it's december now folks

December 01, 2002 by Eric Richardson

So November was a slow month for me as far as posting here goes. That's nothing really new, though; it's a pretty hectic month. But now it's December, Thanksgiving has come and gone, and we have one more week of classes before finals start. It's time to lay my schedule out and grind out the last two weeks or so. Lots of writing lies between me and Christmas. And yet, we sent Notre Dame's "Return to Glory" packing, so all is right in the world. The Trojans once again own LA.