We will explore some interesting, but puzzling questions related to disagreement, akrasia, and punishment. These questions involve: (1) what attitudes should we have when we disagree with each other?, (2) is epistemic akrasia rational or irrational?, (3) what justifies punishment?, (4) why do we punish successful criminal attempts more than unsuccessful ones?, and (5) what would be wrong with the prepunishment?. The optional papers are selected based on my personal taste, while the rest are selected from the syllabi of graduate seminars on epistemology and the philosophy of law taught by Prof. J. Dmitri Gallow (USC) and Prof. Alex Kaiserman (Oxford), respectively.
Organizer: Mingjie Du.
Participants: Teddy Gallagher, Jackson Wilk.
Format: We will meet biweekly in person.
Location & Time: Helen C. White 5193, 15:30-16:30.
Peer Disagreement (Sept. 26, 2025)
Host: Mingjie Du
Question: What attitudes should we have when we disagree with each other? (Notes)
van Inwagen (1996), “It Is Wrong, Everywhere, Always, and for Anyone, to
Believe Anything upon Insufficient Evidence.”
Feldman (2006), “Epistemological Puzzles about Disagreement.”
van Wietmarschen (2013), “Peer Disagreement, Evidence, and Well-Groundedness.” (Optional)
Epistemic Akrasia (Oct. 10, 2025)
Host: Teddy Gallagher
Question: Is epistemic akrasia rational or irrational? (Notes)
Greco (2014), “A Puzzle about Epistemic Akrasia.”
Horowitz (2013), “Epistemic Akrasia.” (Optional)
Punishment (Oct. 24, 2025; Nov. 7, 2025)
Host: Mingjie Du; Jackson Wilk
Question: What justifies punishment? (Notes)
Kant (1798), “The Right to Punish” from “The Right of Punishing and of Pardoning,” in The Philosophy of Law: An Exposition of the Fundamental Principles of Jurisprudence as the Science of Right.
Tadros (2011), “Punishment and Duty,” in The Ends of Harm: The Moral Foundations of the Criminal Law.
Feinberg (2008), “The Classic Debate.” (Optional)
Question: Why do we punish successful criminal attempts more than unsuccessful ones? (Notes)
Lewis (1989), “The Punishment that Leaves Something to Chance.”
Waldron (1995), “Moments of Carelessness and Massive Loss.” (Optional)
Prepunishment (Nov. 21, 2025)
Host: Teddy Gallagher
Question: What would be wrong with the prepunishment? (Notes)
New (1992), “Time and Punishment.”
Lewis (1997), “Do We Believe in Penal Substitutions?”
mdu42[at]wisc[dot]edu | Madison, WI