The Content of Thought Experiments and Philosophical Context
Location
Science Center, A262
Document Type
Presentation
Start Date
4-26-2013 4:00 PM
End Date
4-26-2013 5:00 PM
Abstract
Thought experiments are a common method of trying to make a philosophical point. There is the question, though, about how useful thought experiments are in telling us about the world: what does thinking about killing a king tell us about actually killing a king? Timothy Williamson offers an account of thought experiments based upon a general cognitive capacity to consider counterfactuals. Anna-Sara Malmgren is critical of such a capacity. This work assess both accounts in relation to common philosophical thought experiments and finds Williamson's perspective could be sharpened with an account of philosophical context.
Recommended Citation
Gilfether, Kevin, "The Content of Thought Experiments and Philosophical Context" (04/26/13). Senior Symposium. 17.
https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/seniorsymp/2013/presentations/17
Major
Philosophy
Advisor(s)
Dorit Ganson, Philosophy
Project Mentor(s)
Dorit Ganson, Philosophy
April 2013
The Content of Thought Experiments and Philosophical Context
Science Center, A262
Thought experiments are a common method of trying to make a philosophical point. There is the question, though, about how useful thought experiments are in telling us about the world: what does thinking about killing a king tell us about actually killing a king? Timothy Williamson offers an account of thought experiments based upon a general cognitive capacity to consider counterfactuals. Anna-Sara Malmgren is critical of such a capacity. This work assess both accounts in relation to common philosophical thought experiments and finds Williamson's perspective could be sharpened with an account of philosophical context.
Notes
Session III, Panel 16: The Well-Tempered Self and Others: Case Studies in Philosophy and Psychology
Moderator: Cindy Frantz, Associate Professor of Psychology
Full text thesis available here.