Guest Lecture by Sebastian Watzl (Oslo)
Open to all interested!
Abstract: Is distraction always bad? In the societal discussion it can seem to be regarded that way. This paper takes on the general philosophical issue. One might say that there is always something bad about distraction. Maybe distraction necessarily involves a failure of attention, of practical rationality, of autonomy or vigilance, or undermines the kind of coherence necessary for a meaningful life. At least an ideal life cannot be one that is full of distractions, one might think. In this paper I argue against such views and defend a reductivist position. Drawing in part on the science of attention, I argue that distraction consists in a specific way of paying attention to something. Understood in this way, distraction can, all things considered, be a good thing. This is true along prudential, moral and epistemic dimensions of evaluation. Further, there are no general pro tanto reasons against distraction. There is nothing that speaks against distraction as such, and distraction need not be indicative of any form of defect or failure. A distracted life, I argue, can be as good as they get. I end with a discussion of when a distraction is more likely a bad distraction.
Part of the seminar on “Aufmerksamkeit”, HU Berlin, Philosophy Department, co-organised by James Jardine and Hamid Taieb
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Unter den Linden 6
Raum 2014A
