Bay Area Philosophy of Science Meeting Friday Nov. 1, 2013 6-8 PM at USF.
"Off the peg or made to order? -- Reflecting on the 'heuristic approach' to metaphysics"
Kerry McKenzie
University of Western Ontario
Abstract:
"It is no secret that contemporary philosophy is wracked by factional disputes -- not least between naturalistic and analytic metaphysicians. In our paper 'Thinking Outside the Toolbox', Steven French and I tried to forge a middle ground in this dispute: by appealing to the practices of ontic structural realists we suggested that the more extreme criticisms of analytic metaphysicians need dampening down, but we also denied that our argument sanctioned an 'anything goes' attitude towards metaphysics. I now suspect that that work is fundamentally unstable, and in this paper I'll discuss where that instability leaves the fractious relation between the two fields."
Directions:
We will meet in the Terrace room, second floor of the Zief Law Library.
The Law Library is on the south side of Fulton Street, across from the gate with the University address 2130 Fulton Street. There is a gap between the Zief Law Library and the Law School building, and the entrance is there, in the courtyard between the two buildings. After 5 PM you need to swipe ID to get in, so I will be at the door letting people in. If you arrive late, you can wait for a passerby to go in, or you can go up the exterior stairs to the right of the entrance. These stairs lead to the Terrace Room, where we will be located.
If you have questions email David Stump stumpd@usfca.edu.