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55The function and content of amusementSouth African Journal of Philosophy 25 (2): 126-137. 2006.Once we establish that the fundamental subject matter of the study of humour is a mental state – which I will call finding funny – then it immediately follows that we need to find the content and function of this mental state. The main contender for the content of finding funny is the incongruous (the incongruity thesis ); the main contenders for the function of finding funny are grounded either in its generally being an enjoyable state (the gratification thesis ) or its tendency to lead to bias…Read more
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123Religious conversion, self‐deception, and Pascal's wagerJournal of the History of Philosophy 36 (2): 167-188. 1998.Religious Conversion, Serf- Deception, and Pascal's Wager WARD E.JONES BLAISE PASCAL'S Pens~es is a sustained attempt to convert, to lead its reader to form the belief in the articles of faith. Pascal does not hope to convert by a direct presentation of evidence or argument, but rather attempts to induce in the reader a desire for belief in the articles of faith. He hopes that this desire will lead the reader to put herself in a situation in which she will form the belief. Pascal, in other words…Read more
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58Dissident versus loyalist: Which scientists should we trust?Journal of Value Inquiry 36 (4): 511-520. 2002.
Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Areas of Interest
Metaphilosophy |
17th/18th Century Philosophy |
African/Africana Philosophy |