Mathematical instrumentalism meets the conjunction objection

Scientific realists often appeal to some version of the conjunction objection to argue that scientific instrumentalism fails to do justice to the full empirical import of scientific theories. Whereas the conjunction objection provides a powerful critique of scientific instrumentalism, I will show that mathematical instrumentalism escapes the conjunction objection unscathed.     

Wanting what’s not best

Philosophical Studies - In this paper, we propose a novel account of desire reports, i.e. sentences of the form $$\ulcorner$$ S wants p $$\urcorner$$ . Our theory is partly motivated by...     

Knowledge from multiple experiences

Philosophical Studies - This paper models knowledge in cases where an agent has multiple experiences over time. Using this model, we introduce a series of observations that undermine the...     

The many minds account of vagueness

This paper presents an new epistemicist account of vagueness, one that avoids standard arbitrariness worries by exploiting a plenitudinous metaphysic.

The Real Guide to Fake Barns: A Catalogue of Gifts for Your Epistemic Enemies

Perhaps the concept of knowledge, prior to its being fashioned and molded by certain philosophical traditions, never offered any stable negative verdict in the original fake barn case.     

Advice for Physicalists

This paper engages with two compelling challenges to physicalism,each designed to show that the nature of experience is elusive fromthe standpoint of physical science. It is argued that the physicalistis ultimately well placed to meet both challenges.