Conference on Ronald Dworkin's forthcoming book "Justice for Hedgehogs"

Boston University School of Law will hold a conference on Ronald Dworkin’s forthcoming book "Justice for Hedgehogs." Dworkin will deliver the keynote address on September 25 as well as a response on September 26. The Boston University Law Review will publish the papers and proceedings. In "Justice for Hedgehogs," Dworkin defends the unity of value – the one big thing he knows – and argues against “several foxy causes:” value skepticism, value pluralism, value conflict and, in particular, the supposed opposition between the values of self-interest and those of personal and political morality. He argues for the integration of ethics (the principles that tell human beings how to live well) and morality (the principles that tell them how they must treat other people), and for a morality of self-affirmation as against a morality of self-abnegation. In doing so, he develops accounts of the indispensable conditions of living well – dignity, self-respect, and authenticity – and of our moral duties to others regarding aid and harm. He also argues that law is a branch of political morality that is in turn a department of morality more broadly understood. All — including not only professors, law students, graduate students, and undergraduates but also members of the public — are welcome to attend. There is no registration fee, but if you plan to attend, please RSVP to Andrea Larsen, alarsen@bu.edu. If you have academic questions about the program, please contact Professor James E. Fleming, jfleming@bu.edu.