Logic List Mailing Archive

"Modal Epistemology and Metaphysics"

18-20 Sep 2014
Belgrade, Serbia

International Conference 'Modal Epistemology and Metaphysics', University 
of Belgrade, 18-20 September 2014

Under the auspices of Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, we 
are delighted to announce International Conference ?Modal Epistemology and 
Metaphysics?, which will be held in Belgrade, 18-20 September 2014. The 
venue: Faculty of Philosophy (1st floor, Room 108), ?ika Ljubina 18-20, 
11000 Belgrade.

Organizers:
Prof.Dr. Miloš Arsenijevi? (Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade)
Prof.Dr. Duško Prelevi? (Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade)

Program Committee: Prof.Dr. Miloš Arsenijevi? (University of Belgrade), 
Prof.Dr. Bob Hale (University of Sheffield), Prof.Dr. Bjørn Jespersen 
(University of Barcelona), Prof.Dr. Christian Nimtz (University of 
Bielefeld), Prof.Dr. Duško Prelevi? (University of Belgrade), Prof.Dr. 
Anand Vaidya (San Jose State University)

Speakers:
Miloš Arsenijevi? (University of Belgrade)
Bob Hale (University of Sheffield)
Joachim Horvath (University of Cologne)
Andrej Jandri? (University of Belgrade)
Bjørn Jespersen (University of Barcelona)
Christian Nimtz (University of Bielefeld)
Duško Prelevi? (University of Belgrade)
Sonia Roca-Royes (University of Stirling)
Scott Shalkowski (University of Leeds)
Asger Steffensen (University of Aarhus)
Tuomas Tahko (University of Helsinki)
Anand Vaidya (San Jose State University)
Timothy Williamson (University of Oxford)


MODAL EPISTEMOLOGY AND METAPHYSICS

The Conference Abstract

Modal epistemology explores the possibilities and boundaries of our modal 
knowledge, primarily the knowledge of metaphysical possibility and of 
metaphysical necessity. Until recently, the dominant method of dealing 
with this topic consisted in investigating to what extent conceivability, 
or something of that sort (imagination, intuition, objectual 
understanding, etc.), can be a guide for assessing metaphysical modality. 
However, nowadays what might be called abductivist turn has shifted the 
focus from conceivability to the sort of the evidential base regarding 
metaphysical modalities as such. As an illustration, it is enough to 
mention the debate between modal rationalists, who think that there is an 
a priori access to metaphysical modality, and modal empiricists, who think 
that at least some modal truths, which modal rationalists cannot explain, 
might be known a posteriori. In that respect, modal epistemology and modal 
metaphysics have become much more interwoven. In view of the last fact, 
the aim of the conference is, on the one hand, to deepen our understanding 
of the nature of metaphysical modality in order to find out what is the 
evidential base that any good theory of modal epistemology should explain, 
and, on the other hand, to establish how flexible are competing theories 
of modal epistemology in explaining the nature of modal knowledge.

Conference schedule and the abstracts of speakers will be available soon. 
Entrance is free. For further information (the venue, travel information), 
please contact Mr. Duško Prelevi? (dprelevic@yahoo.com) or Mr. Miloš 
Arsenijevi? (marsenij@f.bg.ac.rs).