Formal Philosophy

Marko Malink, University of Chicago

“Deduction in Sophistici Elenchi 6″

Tuesday, September 27
4:30-6:30
Stuart 209

The paper can be downloaded here.

“The ‘Generalization Problem’ for Deflationism”

4:30-6:20 pm, Cobb 103 (campus map)

“Modeling Epistemic Flow”

4:30-6:20 pm, Cobb 103 (campus map)

“The Wason Task(s) and the Paradox of Confirmation”

4:30-6:20 pm, Cobb 103 (campus map)

The paper may be downloaded here.

The talk’s handout may be downloaded here.

Abstract: I will sketch out the analogy between the Wason Task(s) and the Paradox of Confirmation. This will mainly involve going through some existing historical discussions concerning the analogy, and developing a precise framework for refining and critiquing the analogy. I will explain what I think is right about the existing literature, and also what I think is wrong with it (i.e., what I think the disanalogies are). Along the way, I will make various historical observations about confirmation theory and some of the contemporary evaluative assessments of the behavior of subjects faced with Wason Task(s).

“Mereology No More? Parts, Wholes, and Quantum Decoherence”

4:30-6:20 pm, Cobb 103 (campus map)

Abstract:

Quantum decoherence occurs when a system interacts and thereby becomes entangled with its environment.  The result of this entanglement is to suppress features of the initial system that typically give rise to quantum behavior, giving the system the *appearance* of classicality.

Many interesting claims can (and have) been made based on this dynamical feature of the world.  In this talk, I present an overview of the physics and specifically examine its implications for compositional mereology. I claim that, in light of quantum decoherence and what it reveals about ubiquitous physical processes, there is no metaphysically robust way to parse nature into parts and wholes. 

“Conceptual Analysis and Logical Entailment in Frege”

4:30-6:20 pm, Cobb 103 (campus map)

The talk’s handout may be downloaded here.

“Necessary Chances”

4:30-6:20 pm, Cobb 103 (campus map)

The paper may be downloaded here.

“Reduction and Emergence as Strategies for Investigating Classes of Mechanisms”

4:30-6:20 pm, Cobb 112 (campus map)

“The Role of Enumeration in Kant’s Theory of Mathematical Cognition”

4:30-6:20 pm, Cobb 103 (campus map)

“Formal Concepts in the Tractatus”

4:30-6:20 pm, Cobb 103 (campus map)

The paper may be downloaded here.

Optional background reading:

1) Stephen says the following in regards to the Tractatus: “If you are familiar with the Tractatus, review the 3.3s, 4.112 in particular, the 4.12s, and the 5.743s; if not, read through the 4.12s and peek at the 5.743s.”

2) Frege’s “On Concept and Object”.