2026 Roseman Lecture in Practical Ethics (Sally Haslanger, MIT)

This year’s Roseman Lecture will be delivered by Sally Haslanger, the Ford Professor of Philosophy and Women’s & Gender Studies at MIT. She pursues broad philosophical interests, beginning her philosophical career specializing in analytic metaphysics and epistemology, and in ancient philosophy (especially Aristotle). Over time she has developed interests in social and political philosophy, feminist theory, and critical race theory. Dr. Haslanger has published on the problem of persistence through change, pragmatic paradox, and Aristotle’s hylomorphic theory of substance.

Talk Title

The “Care Crisis”: A Systems Approach

Talk Abstract

If societies are complex dynamic systems, how can local interventions scale to promote social transformation?  For the purposes of this lecture, I will focus on women’s role in unwaged caregiving in the private sphere, traditionally in families. This is a domain where gender oppression is rampant and the gender norms that govern in the family spread far and wide across society.  Moreover, this gendered division of labor produces a relatively stable equilibrium that is difficult to change. I will argue that attention to the dynamics of social reproduction points to some strategies that give women more power.  I’m rather skeptical about policy changes, at least until we have done more to change social norms. So I’ll sketch very briefly a model for social change through chapter-based social movements that takes aim at social norms.

The Roseman Lectures in Practical Ethics are sponsored by Ellen Roseman and the Constance and David Roseman Fund at the Toronto Community Foundation.