Philosophical Thoughts

2003-10-13T14:17:00.000-07:00

Contextualism

Again, a list. I think it is downright superb that there are at least two high-quality conferences on contextualism coming up:

*The first of these is at the University of Aarhus (Denmark) and features speakers like Michael Williams, Crispin Wright, Tim Williamson, and Robert Stalnaker.
**The second of these is at the University of Stirling (Scotland), and features Anthony Brueckner, Keith DeRose, Crispin Wright, Tim Williamson, and Duncan Pritchard.

Beyond a doubt, we epistemologists should all go there, especially since contextualism is one of the most debated positions in recent years. Though, obviously, it is false. But more on that later (soon!)

2003-10-12T06:59:00.000-07:00

Graduate Epistemology Conferences

Without wanting to provide anything resembling a graduate student calendar, I couldn't help noticing the following two interesting epistemology grad conferences, calling for papers right now:

* The Brown Grad Conference, featuring Jonathan Schaffer as keynote speaker. Deadline is December 15th 2003. The Brown conference is in its eight year now, and seems to have established some kind of reputation! Last years keynote speaker was Christine Korsgaard.
** The Amsterdam Free University Graduate Conference, featuring Jonathan Schaffer again, but also Michael Bergmann, and Igor Douven. Deadline is December 1st, 2003. The Amsterdam conference seems to be in its second year now. But if this year's conference is as good as last year's (I wasn't there, but have heard enthusiastic reports of some who were there), surely it will establish a reputation as well.

2003-10-09T11:09:00.000-07:00

Since every respectable philosopher (Brian Weatherson being the primus inter pares here) seems to be blogging nowadays, I decided to set one up as well. So here it is. And welcome to everyone visiting! As far as my personals go, I am currently a final-year PhD student in a very fine philosophy department, actually, one of the very best one can be in. Especially in my area of specialization: epistemology. Figure out for yourself which one it is!

I plan to use this blog as a platform to publish some of my running thoughts. Those thoughts tend to be of an epistemological nature for most of the time, though sometimes I'd like to think about ontological and religious issues as well. In epistemology, I'm mainly interested in contextualism and skepticism. In ontology, I'm mainly interested in causation. In phil of religion, I'm mainly interested in divine foreknowledge.

I further plan to use this blog for various other things as well. I'd like to post lists here, e.g., reading-lists, as well as post things on food and literature and music.

So here's a list of what I'm listening to nowadays qua music:

1. Alex LLoyd, 'Watching Angels Mend': probably the best pop-album of recent years. And his new album is out now!
2. Trio mediaeval, 'Words of the Angel': very beautiful all-female vocal ensemble.
3. Viktoria Mullova, 'Mozart violin concertos': quite stunning period performances by a wonderful violinist.

By the way, the title of this blog refers to Keith Lehrer's truetemp counterexample to externalism, as you might have guessed!