SPA Student Speaker Series: Sarah Nolte, Jason Rosencrantz, Travis Barnett

This SP24, the Student Philosophy Association is hosting the next iteration of its Student Speaker Series. Come join up for snacks and refreshments and student talks. Questions can be directed to SPA President Sam Parajuli <sam.parajuli01@student.csulb.edu>.

The event will take place in LA4–105 at 5:00pm–7:00pm on Thursday March 7th. 

Program:

• Abstract: In a recent work, Hofweber (2018) argues that some empirical questions about how English speakers talk about quantification over proposition terms have substantial consequences for metaphysics. In particular, he argues for a conditional claim: if, as a matter of fact, English speakers talk about propositions in ways that are non-referring, then metaphysicians are led to a form of alethic idealism according to which ‘there are no ineffable facts’ (2018: 134). This talk presents Hofweber’s argument for the conditional claim that a rejection of an ‘external reading’ of quantification over propositions entails the effability thesis, and then charges Hofweber’s argument with circularity by exposing two of its hidden premises: (1) That there is only one available alternative reading of quantification over propositions—an ‘internal reading’—and (2) that reality can be precisified without remainder into two metaphysical aspects, called ‘what there is’ and ‘what is the case’. In both cases, a neglected third possibility enables escape routes from the effability thesis, even upon rejection of the external reading of quantification over proposition terms.
• Areas: Metaphysics, Philosophical Logic, Philosophy of Language