Philosophy Salon: Addiction, Autonomy and Responsibility
Do people with addiction have the choice to give it up? Are they responsible for their addictive behaviours?
In her new book, What Would You Do Alone in a Cage with Nothing but Cocaine?, Professor of Philosophy and Bioethics Hanna Pickard offers a fresh way of thinking about responsibility and blame that has implications not just for addicts and those who have relationship with them, but for all of us. Joining Pickard and host Julian Baggini to discuss addiction, autonomy, agency and freedom is George Stamets. In the second half, the conversation will be led by your questions. Come with an open mind, and prepare for it to be filled.
Hanna Pickard is Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Bioethics and Krieger-Eisenhower Professor at Johns Hopkins University. Her new book is What Would You Do Alone in a Cage with Nothing but Cocaine? A Philosophy of Addiction.
George Stamets is a lecturer in philosophy at the University of Bristol. He works mainly in metaphysics, philosophy of mind, and ethics, with a focus on questions concerning human agency and responsibility.