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35Epistemische deugden en hun verantwoordingTijdschrift Voor Filosofie 60 (2): 243-268. 1998.In this paper I argue that all proposals for demarcation criteria distinguishing between scientific and non-scientific knowledge, have failed. Moreover, there is not a single set of epistemic virtues that characterizes 'good' knowledge, nor is there such a set that characterizes science. There are many different epistemic virtues and no universal rules about how they are to be applied in particular cases. Different virtues may dominate in different knowledge domains. In the 'same' domain there a…Read more
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36Whatever seems right to me is rightBehavioral and Brain Sciences 22 (6): 973-973. 1999.It is argued that given the task Palmer sets himself, there are no constraints on his colour experiences whatsoever.
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50Meaning, prototypes and the future of cognitive scienceMinds and Machines 1 (3): 233-257. 1991.In this paper I evaluate the soundness of the prototype paradigm, in particular its basic assumption that there are pan-human psychological essences or core meanings that refer to basic-level natural kinds, explaining why, on the whole, human communication and learning are successful. Instead I argue that there are no particular pan-human basic elements for thought, meaning and cognition, neither prototypes, nor otherwise. To illuminate my view I draw on examples from anthropology. More generall…Read more
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24Colour is a culturalist categoryBehavioral and Brain Sciences 28 (4): 507-508. 2005.Extrapolation of Steels & Belpaeme's (S&B) results show that colour is a culturalist category. Populations will only share the category of colour if it is built into the system. If “left to themselves” different populations may or may not stumble on the colour category. Populations that do not share a colour category may still be able to communicate in a wide variety of environments.
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262The ignis fatuus of semantic universalia: The case of colourBritish Journal for the Philosophy of Science 45 (2): 770-783. 1994.
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Philosophy of Chemistry. Between the Manifest and the Scientific ImageTijdschrift Voor Filosofie 63 (2): 431-432. 2001.
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75Meaning, prototypes and the future of cognitive scienceMinds and Machines 1 (3): 233-57. 1991.In this paper I evaluate the soundness of the prototype paradigm, in particular its basic assumption that there are pan-human psychological essences or core meanings that refer to basic-level natural kinds, explaining why, on the whole, human communication and learning are successful. Instead I argue that there are no particular pan-human basic elements for thought, meaning and cognition, neither prototypes, nor otherwise. To illuminate my view I draw on examples from anthropology. More generall…Read more
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560No Need to Speak the same Language? Review of Ramberg, Donald Davidson's Philosophy of LanguageDialectica, Vol. 50, No.1, 1996, Pp. 63-71 50 (1): 63-72. 1996.The book is an “introductory” reconstruction of Davidson on interpretation —a claim to be taken with a grain of salt. Writing introductory books has become an idol of the tribe. This is a concise book and reflects much study. It has many virtues along with some flaws. Ramberg assembles themes and puzzles from Davidson into a more or less coherent viewpoint. A special virtue is the innovative treatment of incommensurability and of the relation of Davidson’s work to hermeneutic themes. The weaknes…Read more
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3Filosofie van de wetenschappenD. Coutinho. 1988.Inleiding in de wetenschapsfilosofie, bedoeld voor filosofiestudenten.
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The philosophy of chemistry: From infancy towards maturityIn Davis Baird, Eric R. Scerri & Lee C. McIntyre (eds.), Philosophy of Chemistry: Synthesis of a New Discipline, Springer. 2006.
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4De-essentialising Across the Board: No Need to Speak the Same LanguageNetherlands Journal of Legal Philosophy 3 263-284. 2006.status: published.
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29The analysis of sensations as the foundation of all sciencesBehavioral and Brain Sciences 16 (1): 163-164. 1993.
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22Art and science as ways of worldmakingIn Paul Weingartner & Gerhard Schurz (eds.), Proceedings of the 11th International Wittgenstein Symposium, Hölder-pichler-tempsky. 1987.
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87On the neglect of the philosophy of chemistryFoundations of Chemistry 1 (2): 111-174. 1999.In this paper I present a historiography of the recent emergence of philosophy of chemistry. Special attention is given to the interest in this domain in Eastern Europe before the collapse of the USSR. It is shown that the initial neglect of the philosophy of chemistry is due to the unanimous view in philosophy and philosophy of science that only physics is a proper science (to put in Kant's words). More recently, due to the common though incorrect assumption that chemistry can in principle be r…Read more
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30A Theory of Interpretation for Comparative and Chinese PhilosophyDao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy 15 (4): 575-589. 2016.Why should interpretation of conceptual schemes and practices across traditions work at all? In this paper we present the following necessary conditions of possibility for interpretation in comparative and Chinese philosophy: the interpreter must presuppose that there are mutually recognizable human practices; the interpreter must presuppose that “the other” is, on the whole, sincere, consistent, and right; the interpreter must be committed to certain epistemic virtues. Some of these necessary c…Read more
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86Is Our Universe a Mere Fluke? The Cosmological Argument and Spinning the UniversesPSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association 1988 75-82. 1988.Recent discussions about the anthropic principle and the argument from design can perhaps be summarized as follows : The world is very unusual, so it must have been made by an intelligent creator. The world is very unusual, but unusual things do occur by chance. Both and , in their ordinary interpretations, have been labelled probabilistic fallacies. In my paper I will discuss in particular the following two aspects: The contemporary relevance of Cicero's discussions on chance. The fact that any…Read more
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Eliminativisme gereduceerd tot pragmatismeAlgemeen Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Wijsbegeerte 85 (1): 113-127. 1993.
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38Natural Kinds and Manifest Forms of LifeDialectica 46 (3‐4): 243-261. 1992.SummaryIn this paper I try to make sense of and give provisional answers to question like: Are there interesting theories about natural kinds ? Are some classifications or categorisations more natural than others? Does it matter whether or not there are natural kinds? To get an initial feel for the subject let's consider some suggestions from the literature as to what might count as a candidate for a natural kind or natural kind term
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47Consciousness is not a natural kindBehavioral and Brain Sciences 18 (2): 269-270. 1995.Blocks distinction between “phenomenal feel” consciousness and “thought/cognition” consciousness is a cultural construction. Consciousness (and its “subspecies”) is not a natural kind. Some crosscultural data are presented to support this.
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30Telematic Life FormsTechné: Research in Philosophy and Technology 4 (3): 208-219. 1999.status: published.
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8A multiculture of veridicalitiesBehavioral and Brain Sciences 21 (4): 481-482. 1998.Edelman's target article purports to be about veridical representations. I argue that it would be a mistake to think it has much to do with veridicality as normally understood.
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43Philosophy of Science and Philosophy of ChemistryHyle: International Journal for Philosophy of Chemistry 20 (1): 11-57. 2014.In this paper I assess the relation between philosophy of chemistry and philosophy of science, focusing on those themes in the philosophy of chemistry that may bring about major revisions or extensions of current philosophy of science. Three themes can claim to make a unique contribution to philosophy of science: first, the variety of materials in the world; second, extending the world by making new stuff; and, third, specific features of the relations between chemistry and physics.
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36Out of the Ge-stell? The Role of the East in Heidegger’s das andere DenkenPhilosophy East and West 64 (3): 527-562. 2014.Modern technology (Technik, la technique) has constituted the gears on which the wheels of the modern world keep turning. The later Heidegger devotes sustained reflection to this unprecedented phenomenon in human history. It is notable that, compared with other figures from twentieth-century continental philosophy, Heidegger has served as the most frequent reference point in current philosophy of technology (Technikphilosophie). This field of philosophy came into being after the so-called empiri…Read more
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23Heidegger on Zhuangzi and Uselessness: Illustrating Preconditions of Comparative PhilosophyJournal of Chinese Philosophy 41 (3-4): 387-406. 2014.In this article, I look at those passages in the Zhuangzi usually associated with “uselessness.” I discuss in what way these passages may have been suggestive to Martin Heidegger to explain his ideas of the necessity of the other thinking and of the “waiting people” being entirely unusable to others. Then I make some brief comments concerning basic conditions of interpretation, using examples taken from the Zhuangzi passages discussed. These conditions include family resemblance across the board…Read more