The Communitarian Ethic of Edwards and Royce

Please join us in Auerbach 320 or online this Wednesday, January 25, from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m., for our next meeting of the University of Hartford Philosophy Club as Richard Hall presents on the communitarian ethics of two American metaphysical idealist philosopher/theologians: Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) and Josiah Royce (1855-1916). In his paper, “The Communitarian Ethic of Edwards and Royce”, Hall traces a communitarian ethic as a continuity, despite their differences, running from Edwards as its source through to Royce, then builds upon this commonality as one of the key features of what makes American Philosophy distinctly American. 

To join the meeting online click the link below. If you have trouble joining, call Brian Skelly at 413-273-2273.  

Richard A. S. Hall is a professor of philosophy at Fayetteville State University, a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina. He holds a Ph.D. and B.A. in philosophy from the University of Toronto and Boston University respectively. His publications include five books. His most recent book is The Justice of War: Its Foundation in Ethics and Natural Law (Lexington Books, 2020). Others are The Neglected Northampton Texts of Jonathan Edwards: Edwards on Society and Politics (The Edwin Mellen Press, 1990); Josiah Royce’s Proposal How to Establish World Peace (The Edwin Mellen Press, 2017); and White Calvinists Fighting Against Black Slavery (The Edwin Mellen Press, 2016). He has chapters in the following publications: The Contribution of Jonathan Edwards to American Culture and Society (The Edwin Mellen Press, 2008); Josiah Royce for the Twenty-First Century (Lexington Books, 2012); Middlebrow Wodehouse (Ashgate, 2016); and entries in The Jonathan Edwards Encyclopedia (Eerdmans).  

An ongoing weekly tradition at the University since 2001, the University of Hartford Philosophy Club is a place where students, professors, and people from the community at large meet as peers. Sometimes presentations are given, followed by discussion. Other times, topics are hashed out by the whole group.   

Presenters may be students, professors, or people from the community. Anyone can offer to present a topic. The mode of presentation may be as formal or informal as the presenter chooses.