SKEPTICISM, CONTEXTUALISM, and DISCRIMINATION Jonathan Schaffer
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PENSARE IL BIOS B@Belonline/Print
PENSARE IL BIOS B@belonline/print Rivista semestrale di Filosofia N. 5 – Anno 2008 B@belonline/print è la versione a stampa della rivista elettronica www.babelonline.net Due modalità di esprimere la filosofia oggi che dialogano nell’identità e nella differenza dei modi e dei contenuti Questo numero della rivista è stato realizzato con il contributo del Dipartimento di Filosofia dell’Università degli Studi Roma Tre. B@belonline/print Direzione e Redazione Dipartimento di Filosofia Università degli Studi Roma Tre Via Ostiense 234 00146 Roma Sito Internet:http://host.uniroma3.it/dipartimenti/filosofia Tel. + 39.06.57338338/57338425 – fax + 39.06.57338340 Direttore: Francesca Brezzi Comitato direttivo: Patrizia Cipolletta ([email protected]) e Chiara Di Marco ([email protected] ) Comitato scientifico: Giuseppe Cantillo, Riccardo Chiaradonna, Claudia Dovolich, Daniella Iannotta, Giacomo Marramao, Elio Matassi, Paolo Nepi, Maria Teresa Pansera, Stefano Poggi, Beatrice Tortolici, Carmelo Vigna Comitato di redazione: Mattia Artibani, Francesca Gambetti, Carla Guetti, Davide Maggiore, Sabine Meine, Paolo Mulè Abbonamento annuale: 25 € (Italia), 30 € (Estero), 20 € (Studenti), 35 € (Sostenitori) da versare sul c.c. n. 38372207, intestato a: Associazione Culturale Mimesis. Spedire fotocopia della ricevuta alla Redazione di B@belonline via fax, o via e-mail, o via posta. Numeri arretrati: versare 20 € sul c.c. indicato e inviare la ricevuta alla Redazione. Libri per recensioni, riviste e manoscritti possono essere inviati alla Segreteria di -
Putting Reasons in Their Place José Ángel Gascón
Document generated on 09/29/2021 9:19 a.m. Informal Logic Putting Reasons in their Place José Ángel Gascón Volume 40, Number 4, 2020 Article abstract Hilary Kornblith has criticised reasons-based approaches to epistemic URI: https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/1075226ar justification on the basis of psychological research that shows that reflection is DOI: https://doi.org/10.22329/il.v40i4.6070 unreliable. Human beings, it seems, are not very good at identifying our own cognitive processes and the causes of our beliefs. In this article I defend a See table of contents conception of reasons that takes those empirical findings into account and can avoid Kornblith’s objections. Reasons, according to this account, are not to be identified with the causes of our beliefs and are useful first and foremost in Publisher(s) argumentation instead of reflection. Informal Logic ISSN 0824-2577 (print) 2293-734X (digital) Explore this journal Cite this article Gascón, J. (2020). Putting Reasons in their Place. Informal Logic, 40(4), 587–604. https://doi.org/10.22329/il.v40i4.6070 Copyright (c), 2020 José Ángel Gascón This document is protected by copyright law. Use of the services of Érudit (including reproduction) is subject to its terms and conditions, which can be viewed online. https://apropos.erudit.org/en/users/policy-on-use/ This article is disseminated and preserved by Érudit. Érudit is a non-profit inter-university consortium of the Université de Montréal, Université Laval, and the Université du Québec à Montréal. Its mission is to promote and disseminate research. https://www.erudit.org/en/ Putting Reasons in their Place JOSÉ ÁNGEL GASCÓN Department of Philosophy Universidad Católica del Maule Talca, Chile [email protected] Abstract: Hilary Kornblith has Résumé: Hilary Kornblith a critiqué criticised reasons-based approaches to les approches raisonnées de la justifi- epistemic justification on the basis of cation épistémique en se basant sur psychological research that shows that des recherches psychologiques qui reflection is unreliable. -
(Review Published in the Times Literary Supplement, January 16 2015, 5833, Pp. 22-23) Peter Unger EMPTY IDEAS: a CRITIQUE OF
(Review published in The Times Literary Supplement, January 16 2015, 5833, pp. 22-23) Peter Unger EMPTY IDEAS: A CRITIQUE OF ANALYTIC PHILOSOPHY 258pp. Oxford University Press. £29.99 978 0 19 933081 2 by Timothy Williamson Metaphysics is back in fashion, at least in the analytic tradition that dominates English- speaking philosophy and is growing rapidly across the rest of the world too. It’s quite a turnaround. In the mid-twentieth century, the analytic tradition had two main strands: logical positivism and ordinary language philosophy. The logical positivists dismissed metaphysics as cognitively meaningless, unverifiable by observation and logic. Ordinary language philosophers tended to be equally suspicious, diagnosing metaphysical speculation as the pathological result of using words outside the down-to-earth contexts that gave them meaning. But things have changed. These anti-metaphysical arguments rested on assumptions about meaning that have not withstood the test of time. Moreover, the resurgence of metaphysics was led by philosophers such as Saul Kripke and David Lewis, who wrote so clearly and intelligibly about essential properties (think Aristotle), possible worlds (think Leibniz), and the like that the charge of meaninglessness just would not stick. Contemporary analytic metaphysicians see themselves as theorizing boldly and systematically about the deepest and most general nature of reality. In Peter Unger’s view, they are deluded: far from resuming pre-Kantian metaphysics in the grand old style, they do little more than play with words. Their ideas are mostly empty. Indeed, he widens the charge to analytic philosophy more generally. Nor does he think better of non-analytic philosophy; he just has no time for it. -
Veritism, Values, Epistemic Norms (Rysiew)
late-stage version 1 Veritism, Values, Epistemic Norms PATRICK RYSIEW 1. Introduction Stephen Grimm observes that “[a]mong contemporary epistemologists, perhaps the most prominent way to make sense of our epistemic evaluations is in teleological terms” (Grimm 2009, 243). Specifically, many epistemologists take it that what has fundamental value in the epistemic domain is truth -- or, more properly, true belief. From this, the teleological account of epistemic appraisal to which Grimm refers naturally follows: other epistemic goods besides true belief -- justification, evidence, reasons, and so on -- have epistemic value because they are appropriately related to that telos.1 (There is, of course, significant disagreement as to what the appropriate such relation is, exactly.) Such a truth-oriented approach to understanding epistemic value and assessments is a core theme of Epistemology and Cognition, and indeed of Alvin Goldman’s epistemological writings as a whole. Thus, in the former work, we’re told that “[t]he central epistemological concepts of appraisal…invoke true belief as their ultimate aim” (1986, 3), that “true belief is a prime determinant of intellectual value” (ibid., 98), and that the appropriate criteria of epistemic rightness are all truth-linked (ibid., 116). In later works, the same underlying idea, now dubbed ‘veritism’, is defended: “the cardinal [epistemic] value, or underlying motif, is something like true, or accurate belief” (2012, 52); and various intellectual virtues (2002) and public institutions and practices -
Following the Argument Where It Leads
Following The Argument Where It Leads Thomas Kelly Princeton University [email protected] Abstract: Throughout the history of western philosophy, the Socratic injunction to ‘follow the argument where it leads’ has exerted a powerful attraction. But what is it, exactly, to follow the argument where it leads? I explore this intellectual ideal and offer a modest proposal as to how we should understand it. On my proposal, following the argument where it leaves involves a kind of modalized reasonableness. I then consider the relationship between the ideal and common sense or 'Moorean' responses to revisionary philosophical theorizing. 1. Introduction Bertrand Russell devoted the thirteenth chapter of his History of Western Philosophy to the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas. He concluded his discussion with a rather unflattering assessment: There is little of the true philosophic spirit in Aquinas. He does not, like the Platonic Socrates, set out to follow wherever the argument may lead. He is not engaged in an inquiry, the result of which it is impossible to know in advance. Before he begins to philosophize, he already knows the truth; it is declared in the Catholic faith. If he can find apparently rational arguments for some parts of the faith, so much the better: If he cannot, he need only fall back on revelation. The finding of arguments for a conclusion given in advance is not philosophy, but special pleading. I cannot, therefore, feel that he deserves to be put on a level with the best philosophers either of Greece or of modern times (1945: 463). The extent to which this is a fair assessment of Aquinas is controversial.1 My purpose in what follows, however, is not to defend Aquinas; nor is it to substantiate the charges that Russell brings against him. -
'Putnam on Bivs and Radical Scepticism'
For Putnam on Brains in Vats, (ed.) S. Goldberg, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press). ‘PUTNAM ON BIVS AND RADICAL SCEPTICISM’ DUNCAN PRITCHARD & CHRIS RANALLI University of Edinburgh & National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) ABSTRACT. The aim of this paper is to explore Putnam’s influential ‘BIV’ argument against radical scepticism, both as he presents this argument and as it has subsequently been reconstructed. §1 explores the BIV argument as Putnam presents it and the anti-sceptical morals that he extracts from this argument. §2 examines a core critique of the argument, so conceived, from Anthony Brueckner. §3 then critically evaluates an influential reconstruction of Putnam’s argument, due to Crispin Wright. §4-5 explores the idea that Putnam’s argument is best thought of as a transcendental response to radical scepticism, and accordingly applies Stroud’s challenge to transcendental arguments to this proposal. Finally, §6 examines an influential criticism of Putnam’s argument which is due to Nagel. 1. PUTNAM’S BIV ARGUMENT A familiar way of arguing for radical scepticism is by appeal to radical sceptical hypotheses, such as the hypothesis that one might be a brain-in-vat (BIV) which is being radically, and undetectably, deceived about its environment. Roughly, the sceptical argument goes that since such sceptical hypotheses are by their nature indistinguishable from normal experience, so one cannot know that they are false. Furthermore, if one cannot know that they are false, then it follows that one can’t know much of what one believes, most of which is inconsistent with radical sceptical hypotheses. This last step will almost certainly require some sort of closure-style principle, whereby knowledge is closed under known entailments. -
Quine's Naturalized Epistemology, Epistemic Normativity
Quine’s Naturalized Epistemology, Epistemic Normativity and the Gettier Problem Dr. Qilin Li ([email protected]; [email protected]) The Department of Philosophy, Peking University Beiijing, P. R. China 100871 W. V. Quine is one of the most prominent advocates of the naturalistic approach to epistemology and he argues that epistemology should be naturalized and transformed into a sub-discipline of psychology and hence a chapter in science. In his famous paper “Epistemology Naturalized,” Quine starts to compare epistemology with the logical and set-theoretical studies of the foundations of mathematics. Similar to the studies of the foundations of mathematics, as Quine suggests, epistemological studies, which are “concerned with the foundation of science” (Quine 1968, p. 69), can be divided into two sorts— one is conceptual and the other is doctrinal. Quine further argues that the conceptual ones are concerned with meaning of our material object concepts, which are clarified by reducing them into sense experience concepts; and, on the other hand, the doctrinal ones are concerned with truth of our material object beliefs, which are established by deducing them from the premises about observations. According to Quine, both sorts of studies in traditional epistemology are doomed, since traditional epistemology shows no real advantages over sciences, especially psychology. Thus, Quine advocates that we should abandon this traditional epistemology; but this does not imply the death of epistemology per se, since epistemology can still go on “in a new setting and a clarified status” (Quine 1 1968, p.82). We should embrace this new epistemology, i.e., naturalized epistemology, which “falls into place as a chapter of psychology and hence of natural science” (Quine 1968, p.82), in other words, unlike traditional epistemology, new epistemology “is contained in natural science, as a chapter of psychology” (Quine 1968, p.83). -
Philosophical Scepticism 2018
The University of Manchester Research Philosophical Scepticism and the Aims of Philosophy DOI: 10.1093/arisoc/aox017 Document Version Accepted author manuscript Link to publication record in Manchester Research Explorer Citation for published version (APA): Beebee, H. (2018). Philosophical Scepticism and the Aims of Philosophy. Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, 118(1), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1093/arisoc/aox017 Published in: Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society Citing this paper Please note that where the full-text provided on Manchester Research Explorer is the Author Accepted Manuscript or Proof version this may differ from the final Published version. If citing, it is advised that you check and use the publisher's definitive version. General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the Research Explorer are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Takedown policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please refer to the University of Manchester’s Takedown Procedures [http://man.ac.uk/04Y6Bo] or contact [email protected] providing relevant details, so we can investigate your claim. Download date:02. Oct. 2021 AUTHOR-ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT; PLEASE DO NOT CITE Forthcoming in The Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, 2018 Philosophical Scepticism and the Aims of Philosophy1 Helen Beebee Department of Philosophy, University of Manchester Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK Abstract I define ‘philosophical scepticism’ as the view that philosophers do not and cannot know many of the substantive philosophical claims that they make or implicitly assume. -
Having Hands, Even in the Vat: What the Semantic Argument Really Shows About Skepticism by Samuel R Burns
Having Hands, Even in the Vat: What the Semantic Argument Really Shows about Skepticism by Samuel R Burns A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honors Department of Philosophy in The University of Michigan 2010 Advisors: Professor Gordon Belot Assistant Professor David Baker ”With relief, with humiliation, with terror, he understood that he also was an illusion, that someone else was dreaming him.” Jorge Luis Borges, “The Circular Ruins” “With your feet in the air and your head on the ground/Try this trick and spin it/ Your head will collapse/But there’s nothing in it/And you’ll ask yourself: ‘Where is my mind?’” The Pixies © Samuel R Burns 2010 To Nami ii Table of Contents Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................iv 1. The Foundation ............................................................................................1 1.1. The Causal Theory of Reference ........................................................................4 1.2. Semantic Externalism ........................................................................................11 2. The Semantic Argument ...........................................................................16 2.1. Putnam’s Argument ...........................................................................................16 2.2. The Disquotation Principle ..............................................................................19 -
HISTORIA SCEPTYCYZMU Monografie Fundacji Na Rzecz Nauki Polskiej
HISTORIA SCEPTYCYZMU monografie fundacji na rzecz nauki polskiej rada wydawnicza prof. Tomasz Kizwalter, prof. Janusz Sławiński, prof. Antoni Ziemba, prof. Marek Ziółkowski, prof. Szymon Wróbel fundacja na rzecz nauki polskiej Renata Ziemińska HISTORIA SCEPTYCYZMU W POSZUKIWANIU SPÓJNOŚCI toruń 2013 Wydanie książki subwencjonowane przez Fundację na rzecz Nauki Polskiej w ramach programu Monografie FNP Redaktor tomu Anna Mądry Korekty Ewelina Gajewska Projekt okładki i obwoluty Barbara Kaczmarek Printed in Poland © Copyright by Renata Ziemińska and Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Mikołaja Kopernika Toruń 2013 ISBN 978-83-231-2949-3 WYDAWNICTWO NAUKOWE UNIWERSYTETU MIKOŁAJA KOPERNIKA Redakcja: ul. Gagarina 5, 87-100 Toruń tel. +48 56 611 42 95, fax +48 56 611 47 05 e-mail: [email protected] Dystrybucja: ul. Reja 25, 87-100 Toruń tel./fax: +48 56 611 42 38, e-mail: [email protected] www.wydawnictwoumk.pl Wydanie pierwsze Druk i oprawa: Abedik Sp. z o.o. ul. Glinki 84, 85-861 Bydgoszcz Spis treści wstęp ......................................................................................................... 9 część i. pojęcie i rodzaje sceptycyzmu rozdział 1. genealogia terminu „sceptycyzm” ........................... 15 rozdział 2. ewolucja pojęcia sceptycyzmu .................................. 21 Starożytny sceptycyzm jako zawieszenie sądów pretendujących do prawdy .......................................................................................... 21 Średniowieczny sceptycyzm jako uznanie słabości ludzkich sądów wobec Bożej wszechmocy -
Mathematics, Time, and Confirmation
Mathematics, Time, and Confirmation Ulrich Meyer Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics University of Cambridge, 1995 Submitted to the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy in partial fulfil- ment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. September 2001 Author: ................................. .. .... Department of Linguistics aKPhilosophy August 10, 2001 Certified by: .......................... Robert C. Stalnaker Professor of Philosophy Thesis Supervisor Accepted by: .............. Vann McGee Professor of Philosophy Chair, Committee on Graduate Students @Ulrich Meyer 2001. All rights reserved. The author hereby grants permission to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to reproduce and distribute publicly paper and electronic copies of this thesis in whole or in part. MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY OCT 11 2001 ARCMly LIBRARIES Mathematics, Time, and Confirmation by Ulrich Meyer Submitted to The Department of Linguistics and Philosophy on 10 August 2001 in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy ABSTRACT This dissertation discusses two issues about abstract objects: their role in scientific theories, and their relation to time. Chapter 1, "Why Apply Mathematics?" argues that scientific theories are not about the mathematics that is applied in them, and defends this thesis against the Quine-Putnam Indispensability Argument. Chapter 2, "Scientific Ontology," is a critical study of W. V. Quine's claim that metaphysics and mathematics are epistemologically on a par with nat- ural science. It is argued that Quine's view relies on a unacceptable account of empirical confirmation. Chapter 3, "Prior and the Platonist," demonstrates the incompatibility of two popular views about time: the "Platonist" thesis that some objects exist "outside" time, and A. -
The Oberlin Colloquium in Philosophy: Program History
The Oberlin Colloquium in Philosophy: Program History 1960 FIRST COLLOQUIUM Wilfrid Sellars, "On Looking at Something and Seeing it" Ronald Hepburn, "God and Ambiguity" Comments: Dennis O'Brien Kurt Baier, "Itching and Scratching" Comments: David Falk/Bruce Aune Annette Baier, "Motives" Comments: Jerome Schneewind 1961 SECOND COLLOQUIUM W.D. Falk, "Hegel, Hare and the Existential Malady" Richard Cartwright, "Propositions" Comments: Ruth Barcan Marcus D.A.T. Casking, "Avowals" Comments: Martin Lean Zeno Vendler, "Consequences, Effects and Results" Comments: William Dray/Sylvan Bromberger PUBLISHED: Analytical Philosophy, First Series, R.J. Butler (ed.), Oxford, Blackwell's, 1962. 1962 THIRD COLLOQUIUM C.J. Warnock, "Truth" Arthur Prior, "Some Exercises in Epistemic Logic" Newton Garver, "Criteria" Comments: Carl Ginet/Paul Ziff Hector-Neri Castenada, "The Private Language Argument" Comments: Vere Chappell/James Thomson John Searle, "Meaning and Speech Acts" Comments: Paul Benacerraf/Zeno Vendler PUBLISHED: Knowledge and Experience, C.D. Rollins (ed.), University of Pittsburgh Press, 1964. 1963 FOURTH COLLOQUIUM Michael Scriven, "Insanity" Frederick Will, "The Preferability of Probable Beliefs" Norman Malcolm, "Criteria" Comments: Peter Geach/George Pitcher Terrence Penelhum, "Pleasure and Falsity" Comments: William Kennick/Arnold Isenberg 1964 FIFTH COLLOQUIUM Stephen Korner, "Some Remarks on Deductivism" J.J.C. Smart, "Nonsense" Joel Feinberg, "Causing Voluntary Actions" Comments: Keith Donnellan/Keith Lehrer Nicholas Rescher, "Evaluative Metaphysics" Comments: Lewis W. Beck/Thomas E. Patton Herbert Hochberg, "Qualities" Comments: Richard Severens/J.M. Shorter PUBLISHED: Metaphysics and Explanation, W.H. Capitan and D.D. Merrill (eds.), University of Pittsburgh Press, 1966. 1965 SIXTH COLLOQUIUM Patrick Nowell-Smith, "Acts and Locutions" George Nakhnikian, "St. Anselm's Four Ontological Arguments" Hilary Putnam, "Psychological Predicates" Comments: Bruce Aune/U.T.