Research

My research has focuses on three areas: belief control, rationality, and social epistemology. 

My current focus is a monograph on the origin and progress of the notion of epistemic rationality. I argue that epistemic rationality is an innovation of the 17th century meant to provide a standard of adjudication for religious and moral judgments as well as capture the methodology of the new experimental natural philosophy--i.e., incipient modern science. The book is entitled, The Invention of Rationality.

Regarding belief control, I've published a number of articles on the views of historical authors on doxastic voluntarism: including Descartes, Locke, Mary Astell, Thomas Reid, Robert Holcot, Aquinas, and Augustine. I've published the Stanford Encyclopedia entry on doxastic voluntarism with Liz Jackson. I've also developed a number of empirical studies concerning the possibility of voluntary belief with Liz Jackson, forthcoming as "Doxastic Freedom: An Empirical Defense." These are a response to the so-called psychological argument against doxastic voluntarism.  

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."