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22On 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
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3Knowledge and the Elimination of TruthPhilosophie Et Culture: Actes du XVIIe Congrès Mondial de Philosophie 2 849-853. 1988.
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116Essays 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.
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52Uncovering 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
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86Causality, reliabilism, and mathematical knowledgePhilosophy and Phenomenological Research 52 (3): 557-584. 1992.
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68Response 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
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89Particulars, 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
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28Necessity, 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
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106Is 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
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88Experience 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.
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619The 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.
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95Counterfactuals and Modal KnowledgeIn Essays on a Priori Knowledge and Justification, Oup Usa. pp. 251-270. 2014.Timothy Williamson offers a reductive account of modal knowledge in terms of knowledge of counterfactual conditionals. The account is developed in a broader context of defending two more general theses regarding the subject matter and methodology of philosophy. My primary focus in this paper is Williamson’s account of modal knowledge. I argue (1) that his account of modal knowledge does not support his more general theses regarding the subject matter and methodology of philosophy; (2) that the t…Read more
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Areas of Specialization
Epistemology |
Metaphysics |
Areas of Interest
Epistemology |
Metaphysics |