End Times archive

'To refuse to subordinate truth to life is to insist that it matters whether or not anything matters. Knowing that nothing matters matters because it makes a difference to thinking. This is a difference in and for thinking, but a real difference nonetheless. This is the truth of nihilism. Thinking something true makes a new kind of difference, one which differs from other differences. It makes a difference in what thinking can do.' Ray Brassier Published on: Nov 12, 2016 @ 11:24

Here he discusses various default metaphysical positions taken regarding race, racialism, race talk, then goes on to think about the role of semantic theories, problems with this, whether we continue with race talk, whether race talk started in the west, ex phi, why there are so few non-white philosophers and what should be done about that (and sexism too). Roll on Ron... Ron Mallon Published on: Nov 5, 2016 @ 06:04

He discusses Peirce and 'pragmaticism' rather than pragmatism, his architectonic, his theory of signs, reference, Frege's puzzle, Peirce's link with John Perry, his formal logic and metaphysics. He then discusses philosophy of race, how he thinks race should be approached by philosophers, the whiteness of the academy, why he thinks philosophy is white, male and wealthy, and what is to be done. Take away the rag from your face, now ain't the time... Albert Atkin Published on: Oct 29, 2016 @ 06:54

Here he discusses philosophical issues of climate change, the anthropocene and the Enlightenment, why history matters, barriers to meaningful action, whether climate change is an economic matter, whether climate change is too big for ethics, climate change and international politics, the anthropocene and agency, loving the apocalypse, the banality of climate change, why philosophers should be heeded in the environmentalist debates, animal ethics, the split between animal liberation and environmental ethics, progressive consequentialism, duties to the desperate and differences and agreements with Peter Singer. This is a walk to some big cliffs... Dale W Jamieson Published on: Oct 22, 2016 @ 05:49

Here, despite an idiot interviewer, he discusses what it is for someone to value something, the impartiality and credibility of morality, anti-consequentialism, the problem of justice for utilitarianism, the importance of basic structure and why, amongst other things, it doesn't give a green light to Gordon Gekko's 'greed is good'. He then goes on to discuss cultural diversity and tradition, tolerance, liberalism, death and afterlife,what brings value to our lives and the issues of immortality. This is fundamental... Samuel Scheffler Published on: Oct 15, 2016 @ 05:06

Here he discusses methodological naturalism, the relationship between evolutionary theory and theism, Ockam's Razor and parsimony paradigms, parsimony's relationship with instrumentalism, evolutionary theory and group selection, evidentiary relationship of common ancestory and natural selection, testing hypotheses about natural selection, what Fodor gets wrong, what Nagel gets wrong, whether physicalism is the default position of biology, supervenience, how biological science handles race and the Quine/Putnam indispensability argument. This covers the long ground and keeps on rollin'... Elliott Sober Published on: Oct 9, 2016 @ 06:52

Here he discusses what really matters in the philosophical study of neuroscience, the shocking magnitude of the task, why he challenges the current discourse on empathy, affective intentionality, why the social dimension is more important than the individual, mind invasion, Heidegger's importance for his approach, the Human Brain Project and the impact of cultural transformations on philosophical projects.The earth turns through space, you start to hear it turning and wonder... Jan Slaby Published on: Oct 7, 2016 @ 07:39

Here she discusses the philosophical term of art 'robustness' in philosophy of science, de-idealisation, methodologies in science and epistemology, Robert Hudson's scepticism and realism vs anti-realism. She then discusses norms, descriptive norms and finally her views on x-phi. Autumn creeps in, leaves are falling, thoughts start moving across the cooling earth... Chiara Lisciandra Published on: Sep 30, 2016 @ 10:16

Here she discusses the link between Epicureanism and modernity, the seventeenth century's ontological commitments, Leibniz, contractualism and utilitarianism, the politics of the time, Cavendish, morality, moral animals and the idea of morality as 'advantage reduction', egalitarianism, art emotions, and women philosophers in the Academy. As Autumn begins, and the nights draw in, here's something to fill the darkness... Catherine Wilson Published on: Sep 23, 2016 @ 22:19

Here he discusses skepticism and common sense, knowledge, the normativity of attempts as attempts, domains of human performance, how considering Diana the archer helps grasp his ideas, answering Plato, epistemic normativity of judgement, aptness, epistemological naturalism, dream skepticism, the question of the criterion, the role of intuitions in philosophy, whether Tim Williamson's approach to epistemology is incompatible with his own approach, testimony and finally ex phi and the importance of interdisciplinary work to epistemology. We'll be driving on Highway 61 with this one, going where we got to think for a minute ... Ernest Sosa Published on: Sep 16, 2016 @ 06:02

Here she talks about the philosophical issues arising from personal identity, Locke's approach , what he meant by 'forensic', links between his approach and contemporary psychological theories, the link between metaphysical fact and practical judgment, how her approach expands the inclusivity of Locke's notion of personal identity, Locke's approach and animalism, multiplicity, the Narrative Self-Constitution view, the person life view, why animalism opposes this view, how her position still involves a metaphysical position and what is meant by 'literal identity'. Finally she offers some thoughts about the issue of gender imbalance in professional philosophy. Keep asking, keep thinking... Marya Schechtman Published on: Sep 8, 2016 @ 05:00

Here he discusses white guilt about black oppression, his pragmatic approach to framing the demands of rights, racial inequality and justice in the context of the USA, the paradox of rights when used to defend the immorality of slavery, rights externalism, and the need for a multi-discipinarian approach to the philosophy of racial inequality and social injustice. Derrick Darby Published on: Sep 2, 2016 @ 07:03