Uploaded November 2018 | Updated September 2026, 2 minutes ago
Inaugural lecture by Professor Matthew Chrisman
29/10/2018, University of Edinburgh
Abstract: In this lecture, I will present an overview of my work, with reference to three important Edinburgh philosophers. First, citing David Hume, I will explain my research on normative language, especially the meaning of ‘ought’. Then, with reference to Norman Kemp Smith (and Immanuel Kant), I will explain a puzzle I am currently working on. This puzzle concerns the tension between the apparent involuntariness of most belief formation and the fact that we academics often claim that people ought to think for themselves and indeed educate our students with the aim of fostering independent critical thought. I suspect this puzzle can be addressed by taking a more social approach to epistemology than is typical in philosophy. So finally with reference to George Davie I will discuss the concept of a "democratic intellect" as a unit of evaluation where it might make most sense to think of people as capable of thinking for themselves.
ed.ac.uk/ppls/philosophy/events/inaugural-lecture-matthew-chrisman-29-oct-2018
Inaugural lecture by Professor Matthew Chrisman
29/10/2018, University of Edinburgh
Abstract: In this lecture, I will present an overview of my work, with reference to three important Edinburgh philosophers. First, citing David Hume, I will explain my research on normative language, especially the meaning of ‘ought’. Then, with reference to Norman Kemp Smith (and Immanuel Kant), I will explain a puzzle I am currently working on. This puzzle concerns the tension between the apparent involuntariness of most belief formation and the fact that we academics often claim that people ought to think for themselves and indeed educate our students with the aim of fostering independent critical thought. I suspect this puzzle can be addressed by taking a more social approach to epistemology than is typical in philosophy. So finally with reference to George Davie I will discuss the concept of a "democratic intellect" as a unit of evaluation where it might make most sense to think of people as capable of thinking for themselves.
ed.ac.uk/ppls/philosophy/events/inaugural-lecture-matthew-chrisman-29-oct-2018
