-
312Knowledge, A PrioriIn D. M. Borchert (ed.), Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd ed. pp. 79-86. 2006.
-
146Reid and Mill on Hume's Maxim of ConceivabilityAnalysis 39 (4): 212--219. 1979.Hume's maxim consists of two principles which are logically independent of each other: (1) whatever is conceivable is possible; and (2) whatever is inconceivable is impossible. Thomas Reid offered several arguments against the former principle, while John Stuart mill argued against the latter. The primary concern of this paper is to examine whether Reid and mill were successful in calling Hume's maxim into question.
-
201Analyzing a priori knowledgePhilosophical Studies 142 (1). 2009.There are four approaches to analyzing the concept of a priori knowledge. The primary target of the reductive approach is the concept of a priori justification. The primary target of the nonreductive approach is the concept of a priori knowledge. There are two approaches to analyzing each primary target. A theory-neutral approach provides an analysis that does not presuppose any general theory of knowledge or justification. A theory-laden approach provides an analysis that does presuppose some g…Read more
-
252Knowledge and modalitySynthese 172 (3). 2010.Kripke claims that there are necessary a posteriori truths and contingent a priori truths. These claims challenge the traditional Kantian view that (K) All knowledge of necessary truths is a priori and all a priori knowledge is of necessary truths. Kripke’s claims continue to be resisted, which indicates that the Kantian view remains attractive. My goal is to identify the most plausible principles linking the epistemic and the modal. My strategy for identifying the principles is to investigate …Read more
-
110Epistemic Overdetermination and A Priori JustificationPhilosophical Perspectives 19 (1): 41-58. 2005.Radical empiricism is the view that experience is the only source of knowledge. Hence, radical empiricism denies the existence of a priori knowledge. Its most famous proponents are John Stuart Mill and W. V. Quine. Although both reject a priori knowledge, they offer different empiricist accounts of the knowledge alleged by their opponents to be a priori. My primary concern in this paper is not with the cogency of their positive accounts. My focus is their arguments against a priori knowledge. My…Read more
-
158The spatial structure of perceptual spacePhilosophy and Phenomenological Research 46 (4): 665-671. 1986.
-
61Conjunctive properties revisitedAustralasian Journal of Philosophy 62 (3). 1984.This Article does not have an abstract
-
48Reply to my Critics: Anthony Brueckner and Robin JeshionIn Michael J. Shaffer & Michael Veber (eds.), What Place for the a Priori?, Open Court. pp. 111. 2011.
-
64Phenomenal propertiesAustralasian Journal of Philosophy 60 (2): 165-169. 1982.This Article does not have an abstract
-
22In Defense of Pure ReasonPhilosophical Review 109 (1): 103. 2000.This book is an important contribution to the contemporary epistemological literature. It is the only available book-length treatment of epistemological issues associated with the a priori. Moreover, it provides the most comprehensive articulation and defense of traditional rationalism. The book is tightly organized, crisply argued, and sets the standard against which competing accounts must be measured.
-
109The contingent identity of particulars and universalsMind 93 (372): 527-541. 1984.The primary purpose of this paper is to argue that particulars in the actual world are nothing but complexes of universals. I begin by briefly presenting bertrand russell's version of this view and exposing its primary difficulty. I then examine the key assumption which leads russell to difficulty and show that it is mistaken. The rejection of this assumption forms the basis of an alternative version of the view which is articulated and defended.
-
77Adverbial theories of sensing and the many-property problemPhilosophical Studies 44 (September): 143-160. 1983.
-
95Actuality and the a prioriAustralasian Journal of Philosophy 66 (3). 1988.This Article does not have an abstract
-
45On the Relationship between A Priori and Necessary StatementsCanadian Journal of Philosophy 9 (2): 283-287. 1979.Edward Erwin has recently argued against the thesis that the concepts a priori truth’ and ‘necessary truth’ are extensionally equivalent. This thesis consists of two logically independent claims: all a priori truths are necessary; and all necessary truths are a priori. Erwin leaves the first claim unchallenged and elects to devote his efforts exclusively to undermining the second. The brunt of his attack on the second claim rests on alleged unclarities in the concept of an a priori truth. He att…Read more
-
3Knowledge and the Elimination of TruthPhilosophie Et Culture: Actes du XVIIe Congrès Mondial de Philosophie 2 849-853. 1988.
-
107Essays on a Priori Knowledge and Justification: EssaysOup Usa. 2012.The past twenty-five years have seen a major renewal of interest in the topic of a priori knowledge. In the sixteen essays collected here, which span this entire period, philosopher Albert Casullo documents the complex set of issues motivating the renewed interest, identifies the central epistemological questions, and provides the leading ideas of a unified response to them.
-
50Uncovering buried treasure: Henderson and Horgan on conceptual analysisPhilosophical Studies 169 (3): 509-523. 2014.David Henderson and Terry Horgan offer a detailed account of the structure of conceptual analysis that is embedded within a more general account of a priori justification. Their account highlights an important feature of conceptual analysis that has been overlooked in the recent debate. Although it is generally recognized that conceptual analysis involves an inference from premises to the effect that some concept does (or does not) apply to a range of particular cases to a general conclusion abo…Read more
-
85Causality, reliabilism, and mathematical knowledgePhilosophy and Phenomenological Research 52 (3): 557-584. 1992.
-
67Response to my critics: Chris Pincock, Lisa Warenski and Jonathan WeinbergPhilosophical Studies 173 (6): 1705-1720. 2016.This is my response to the papers by Chris Pincock, Lisa Warenski and Jonathan Weinberg, which were presented at the Book Symposium on my Essays on A Priori Knowledge and Justification, American Philosophical Association Pacific Division Meetings, March 16–19, 2014
-
84Particulars, substrata, and the identity of indiscerniblesPhilosophy of Science 49 (4): 591-603. 1982.This paper examines the view that ordinary particulars are complexes of universals. Russell's attempt to develop such a theory is articulated and defended against some common misinterpretations and unfounded criticisms in Section I. The next two sections address an argument which is standardly cited as the primary problem confronting the theory: (1) it is committed to the necessary truth of the principle of the identity of indiscernibles; (2) the principle is not necessarily true. It is argued i…Read more
-
66Necessity, Certainty, and the A PrioriCanadian Journal of Philosophy 18 (1): 43-66. 1988.Empiricist theories of knowledge are attractive for they offer the prospect of a unitary theory of knowledge based on relatively well understood physiological and cognitive processes. Mathematical knowledge, however, has been a traditional stumbling block for such theories. There are three primary features of mathematical knowledge which have led epistemologists to the conclusion that it cannot be accommodated within an empiricist framework: 1) mathematical propositions appear to be immune from …Read more
-
98Is Empiricism Coherent?The Proceedings of the Twentieth World Congress of Philosophy 5 61-74. 2000.In recent years empiricism has come under attack. Some argue that the view is incoherent and conclude, on that basis, that some knowledge is a priori. Whatever the merits of such arguments against empiricism, they cannot be parlayed into an argument in support of the a priori unless the latter is not open to those arguments. My primary contention is that the a priori is open to the arguments offered against empiricism. Hence, they do not advance the case for the a priori. I go on to offer an alt…Read more
-
87Experience and a priori justification (review)Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 63 (3). 2001.Laurence BonJour’s In Defense of Pure Reason is rich and challenging. It offers a tightly integrated attack on empiricism and defense of rationalism. The tight texture of argument makes it difficult to isolate and assess specific aspects of the book in a brief discussion. My goal is to examine the role of experience in BonJour’s conception of a priori justification.
-
608The Coherence of EmpiricismPacific Philosophical Quarterly 81 (1): 31-48. 2000.Rationalists often argue that empiricism is incoherent and conclude, on that basis, that some knowledge is a priori. I contend that such arguments against empiricism cannot be parlayed into an argument in support of the a priori since rationalism is open to the same arguments. I go on to offer an alternative strategy. The leading idea is that, instead of offering a priori arguments against empiricism, rationalists should marshal empirical support for their position.
Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
Areas of Specialization
Epistemology |
Metaphysics |
Areas of Interest
Epistemology |
Metaphysics |