Research

In the past, my research has focused on historical treatments of issues relating doxastic control and responsibility, but recently I've gone empirical with 3 different projects. 

First, I've developed empirical studies concerning the possibility of voluntary belief.  

Second, I carried out a series of studies on whether non-scientists beliefs about science involve an element of faith, and the implication of this for the existence of a conflict between science and religion.

Third, I have been working for a number of years now on studies concerning the social epistemology of philosophical ethics. 

Book:

Locke's Twilight of Probability: An Epistemology of Rational Assent (Routledge, 2022)

(preview) (introduction)

Review by Giorgio Trianni: 

"Boespflug’s study stands as a thought-provoking contribution to Locke scholarship. By zeroing in on the centrality of assent, the book invites a critical reconsideration of Locke’s philosophical intentions. Additionally, Boespflug smoothly bridges Locke’s views with present-day developments in philosophy. The book’s engagement with contemporary debates is particularly praiseworthy: it skillfully avoids the pitfalls of anachronism while bringing Lockean ideas to bear upon current issues. If at times the arguments’ ambition invites further scrutiny – for example, regarding the claim that Locke’s [theory of rational probable assent] surpasses his theory of knowledge in importance – it is precisely this boldness that makes the work so intellectually stimulating. For these reasons, Locke’s Twilight of Probability should be of great interest not only to scholars of early modern philosophy but also to historically attuned scholars engaged in contemporary discussions on the epistemology of belief and testimony."

Work in Progress:            

“Doxastic Voluntarism” (with Liz Jackson) 

Entry for the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

“Moral Enthusiasm” 

Invited contribution to a special of Studi Lockiani on the theme “Locke and Religion"