Philosophy 523/Problems of Philosophy: Epistemology Themes from Boghossian, Christensen and DeRose Princeton University Spring 2009 Wednesdays, 7-9:45(ish), Marx 201 Thomas Kelly 221 1879 Hall
[email protected] In this seminar, we will look at a number of central topics in contemporary epistemology. We will approach these topics through the recently published and forthcoming work of three leading figures in the field: Paul Boghossian (NYU), David Christensen (Brown) and Keith DeRose (Yale), each of whom will visit the seminar over the course of the semester. In addition, we will also read some work by their critics (e.g., Williamson, Hawthorne, Harman and Rosen). Specific topics to be addressed include the following: contextualism about knowledge and its rivals; contextualism as a response to the skeptic. Epistemic relativism. Recent debates over ‘epistemic’ conceptions of analyticity and whether the traditional project of accounting for a priori knowledge by appeal to analyticity is viable. Rationality over time (diachronic principles of conservatism, reflection, etc.) and across persons (the epistemic significance of disagreement). All readings listed below will be available on the Princeton blackboard site for the course https://blackboard.princeton.edu/pucourse/PHI523_S2009 under Course Materials>Readings. 1. February 4th. Overview *February 11th. Seminar will not meet this week. (Note: in order to make up for this session, we will have an additional meeting of the seminar on Thursday, 5/7—this is the week after classes officially end.) Part I. Contextualism, Knowledge, and Skepticism (Keith DeRose) 2. February 18th. Contextualism as a Response to the Skeptic 2 *Keith DeRose, “Solving the Skeptical Problem”, Philosophical Review 104 (1995).