Philosophy as Synchronic History

Daniel Stoljar (Australian National University)

Bernard Williams argues in several places that philosophy is in some deep way akin to history. This paper explores and defends the Williams thesis—though in a way anathema to Williams himself. In particular, I argue that an account of causal explanation suggested by David Lewis may be modified to bring out what is plausible and what is not in what Williams says. I end by pointing out a consequence of the Williams thesis so understood for the question of philosophical progress.

The lecture is followed by a reception at the Department of Philosophy