We're pleased to have Dominic Murphy (Sydney, HPS) presenting a paper at the UOW Philosophy Research Seminar series on Tuesday, October 5th. All are welcome to attend.
Title: Folk Epistemology and the Attribution of Delusion
Abstract: Philosophers, psychiatrists and psychologists have spent some time recently arguing about the concept of delusions, and how delusions might be explained. I will approach this topic from a different angle, and ask about the grounds for our attributing delusions. I suggest that we call a belief a delusion when it is inexplicable using the constraints of what I call 'folk epistemology'. Folk epistemology is a collection of common sense assumptions about the ways beliefs are caused. I suggest that understanding our attributions of delusions in this way solves some of the familiar puzzles about the concept of delusion, but it also suggests that delusions may not be a natural kind that can be given a unified scientific treatment.
When and Where: 5:30pm, Tuesday, October 5th in room 19.1003
