Logic List Mailing Archive

Workshop "Concepts and Abilities"

30-31 May 2008
Zuerich, Switzerland

The Philosophische Seminar University of Zurich (chair of Prof. Dr. 
Hans-Johann Glock) in conjunction with the Zentrum fuer Geschichte des 
Wissens (ETH Zurich) is organizing the 3. Zurich Workshop on Concepts with
 
the title

     Concepts and Abilities (30.-31.05. 2008)

Time: Friday 30th May (14:00) to Saturday 31st May (ca. 15:30).

Location: ETH Zuerich, "Zentrum Geschichte des Wissens", Rmistr. 36, 8001
 
Zuerich, Switzerland (Seminarraum)

Speakers:

Maria Alvarez, University of Southampton, UK

Anthony Kenny, Oxford University, UK

Georges Rey, University of Maryland, USA

Sebastian Rödl, Universität Basel, CH

Katia Saporiti, Universität Zürich, CH



Description:

  From Aristotle through Aquinas and Kant to Wittgenstein, Ryle and 
Chomsky, abilities, capacities and dispositions have played a central role
 
in our understanding of mind and language. This goes in particular for 
conceptual thought. Some contemporaries (e.g. Geach) identify concepts 
with abilities. Others (e.g. Peacocke) insist that at any rate the 
possession of concepts is an ability or disposition. Finally, some 
outspoken representationalists like Fodor deplore even this more modest 
position as a ‘pragmatist’ conspiracy which prevents philos
ophy and 
cognitive science from doing justice to mental representation and 
causation. The workshop will address historical and substantive aspects of
 
the relation between concepts, conceptual thought and abilities. Questions
 
to be discussed include: Can concepts be identified with abilities? If so,
 
can this be reconciled with the idea of that concepts as are mental 
representations or components of propositions? Is concept-possession an 
ability? If so, an ability for what? Should we distinguish between 
abilities and dispositions? What is the connection between conceptual 
capacities, mental representations and the brain?



Further information:  http://www.uzh.ch/philosophie/concepts

Fee (except UZH & ETH): payable at beginning of workshop CHF 15.00

Language: English

Obligatory registration: ray@philos.uzh.ch