Philosophy of science of decision making

Matteo Colombo (Tilburg University)

Dear All,   

You're cordially invited to the next installment of the Philosophy of Science of Decision Making seminar series.   

Speaker: Matteo Colombo (University of Tilburg)

Title: “Tolerance to drugs”

Date: 20 March 2026, 14:00 CET

Format: Online, in English  

Abstract: Drug tolerance is the decrease in the effects of a substance after repeated consumption. Despite its significant role in the development and maintenance of substance use disorders, tolerance has received hardly any philosophical attention, particularly in the context of the puzzle of addiction, which is why a person continues to consume drugs despite their negative consequences. Prominent answers to this question emphasise conative and cognitive dimensions of addiction in the form of, respectively, compulsion and denial. Here, I explore an alterative answer focused on tolerance, namely that there is no puzzle of as to why drug use persists despite its negative effects if I develop tolerance to these effects. To evaluate this answer, I distinguish different ways of understanding the nature and mechanism of tolerance, and conclude that, while tolerance does not solve the puzzle of addiction, it helpfully displays addiction also as a disorder of sensory adaptation.  

Registration: If you would like to join this seminar and have not previously registered, please send an email to [email protected] with the subject line "PhilSciDec". Video links will be shared only with those who register at least 24 hrs in advance of the seminar.

Info: For more information about the seminar series, including future speakers and topics, please visit the website below.