Schedule
\n09.45-10.00 Arrive and Registration
10.00-11.00 Jose Zalabardo (UCL) - 'What Language Can't Represent\, According
to Wittgenstein's Tractatus'
11.10-12.10 Curtis Forbes (Toronto) &ndash\; `A Meta-Epistemological and Empirical
Perspective on the Utility of Metaphysics'
12.10-13.00 Lunch
13.00-14.00 Eve Kitsik (Tartu) &ndash\; `The Secret Language of Metaphysics and its
Role in Ontological Disagreements'
14.10-15.10 John Haldane (St. Andrews) &ndash\; `Method in Metaphysics: The Case of
Causal Pluralism'
15.10-15.30 Break &ndash\; Refreshments
15.30-16.30 James Miller (Durham) &ndash\; `Language and Metaphysics: Towards a
Neo-Aristotelian Account'
16.40-17.40 Kit Fine (NYU) &ndash\; `Some Remarks on the Nature of Metaphysics'
18.00 Conference End
Workshop Description
Although metaphysics has long been taken by some as a central domain of \;enquiry within philosophy\, dating back at least as far as Aristotle&rsquo\;s work \;on the subject matter\, its status as a coherent body of work has been \;attacked throughout the history of western philosophy. Seen by many to have \;had a final damaging blow in the work of Kant\, metaphysics returned to a \;central position in philosophy in the twentieth century following Quine&rsquo\;s \;seminal paper &lsquo\;On What There Is&rsquo\;. Metaphysics thus proceeded with vigour \;throughout much of the twentieth century (see the work of Lowe\, Lewis\, and \;Armstrong for some examples)\, but without too much concern for its own \;foundations.
Quine though not only reinvigorated metaphysics\, but also laid the \;foundation for the many modern objections to its viability that have been \;developed\, drawing upon Quine&rsquo\;s own (possible) rejection of a metaphysical \;line of enquiry. As such\, there has been a recent surge of interest in the \;viability of metaphysics as a research question\, and the growth in the field \;of &lsquo\;metametaphysics&rsquo\; (see Chalmers\, Manley\, and Wasserman\, eds.\, 2009\, Sider \;2011 for some examples). Metaphysicians\, both realist and anti-realist\, \;therefore are more aware of the need to both explain and justify their \;metametaphysical positions. These issues are not only limited within the \;scope of metaphysical enquiry\, but also touch upon issues in epistemology \;(which many recent rejections of metaphysics rely upon)\, the philosophy of \;language (of particular interest here as detailed below)\, logic\, and the \;philosophy of science including the correct role for science within \;metaphysical theories.
This workshop aims to build upon this interest\, and subsequently has invited \;some of the leading names in the field to discuss the various issues that \;arise in this domain.
Particular interest will be applied to the role of language in metaphysics. \;Recent anti-realist arguments have often centred on the claim that \;metaphysical debates are &lsquo\;purely verbal&rsquo\; (see Hirsch 2011\, building upon a \;tradition of work from Carnap and Putnam). The role and nature of language \;has therefore been used to argue against a realist position\, building on \;this idea of metaphysics as a process of mere &lsquo\;conceptual analysis&rsquo\;. \;Clarifying the correct role of language in metaphysics\, and the relationship \;between philosophy of language and metaphysics\, is therefore central to the \;future practice and legitimacy of the domain.
To register\, please e-mail j.t.m.miller[at]durham.ac.uk \;or \;thomas.hughes[at]durham.ac.uk \;Places are limited. Please e-mail to reserve a \;place so that catering needs can be met. A fee of £\;5 will be charged to \;cover refreshments throughout the day. We ask that attendees pay the fee on \;the day whilst registering (cheques payable to &lsquo\;Durham University&rsquo\;). The \;workshop will begin at \;10am\, and end by \;6pm. A full schedule will follow \;shortly.
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