Winter Quarter

Metaphysics – Transcendental Arguments
In this seminar, we will examine the notion of a transcendental argument. As traditionally understood, a transcendental argument shows that certain controversial conditions are in fact met given that these conditions are necessary for the very possibility of some phenomenon that is supposed to be clearly actual. Such arguments have been used primarily in epistemological contexts, to try to show what must be the case given that one has some knowledge. I am more interested in the use of transcendental arguments in ontological contexts, in an effort to reveal what must be so for a particular thing—or anything whatsoever—to exist at all. We will look at a number of contemporary readings in order to understand exactly what a transcendental argument is supposed to be, get clear on what grounds such arguments have been criticized and determine what the prospects are for developing ontological transcendental arguments.

Social Hinge Epistemology:
This course is about hinge epistemology and its possible applications in social epistemology. The first part will focus on Wittgenstein's notion of hinges, as well as on the different accounts of it that can be found in the literature. The second part will make use of this notion in connection with some of the core themes and perspectives in social epistemology, such as: disagreement; testimony; epistemic injustice; feminist epistemology; trust.