From kristie.miller at sydney.edu.au Tue Aug 9 07:39:00 2022 From: kristie.miller at sydney.edu.au (Kristie Miller) Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2022 21:39:00 +0000 Subject: [SydPhil] Time and Causation Workshop, Tuesday 16 August Message-ID: Time and Causation Workshop The University of Sydney, Western Tower Room ZOOM URL https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88599051681?pwd=WDQrOGdielNCckxhWEt5ZThRS1JZdz09 9.00-10.30 Cei Maslen (Victoria University of Wellington) Causal Relativism: Dissolving the cement of the universe Over the past few years, MacFarlane has argued for a view known as ?New Relativism?. He has argued for a limited position, not a global position. E.g. he makes a strong case for the relative truth of taste claims and knowledge claims. The purpose of this paper is to investigate extending this type of relativism to another class of statements ? causal claims. Can ?c causes e? be true for me but not for you? One may be tempted to dismiss such a suggestion out of hand, as threatening the status of causation as the ?cement of the universe?. But this would be over-hasty. 10.30-12.00 Helen Beebee (Leeds University) Causation: how can experimental philosophy shed light on metaphysics? There is a burgeoning literature on the phenomenon of ?causal selection?. There is now considerable evidence that our ordinary causal judgements, as elicited in standard ex-phi surveys, select from among various candidate causes on broadly normative grounds. What light, if any, do ? and can ? such ex-phi surveys shed on the nature of causation itself? We explore this question indirectly, via asking what light ex-phi sheds, or could shed, on whether or not our ordinary concept of causation is ?egalitarian?. On the face of it, causal selection might seem to settle that question. In fact, however, things are quite a lot more complicated than this. Neither standard ex-phi methodologies for exploring our ordinary judgements nor the main explanatory focus of much ex-phi work in this area ? namely the best psychological explanation of causal selection ? are conducive to delivering much evidence concerning the ordinary concept of causation. We consider whether ? and if so, how ? experimental philosophy might deliver better evidence concerning egalitarianism. 1.00-2.30 Ant Eagle (University of Adelaide) Humeanism and Context It is widely supposed that nested counterfactuals like ?Had there been nothing but a lone electron, then had there been more electrons than one, the force between any two would have accorded with Coulomb?s law? pose a problem for Humeanism about laws. The objection, at least when raised within a broadly Lewisian framework for the evaluation of counterfactuals, requires a premise to the effect that the standards of similarity applied to the nested counterfactual are those of the closest antecedent world, not the actual world. I argue that Humeans have no reason to accept this premise, and very good reasons from similar cases involving other context-sensitive expressions to reject it. 2.30-4.00 Richard Corry (University of Tasmania) Power, Influence, and the Interaction Gap Over the last few decades, an ontology of powers has become increasingly popular among metaphysicians. According to this view, at least some properties have a powerful, or dispositional, essence, which is manifested in appropriate circumstances and remains a potentiality otherwise. Power theorists regard powers as the foundation of causal interaction, and thus claim that an ontology of powers will help us understand the philosophically perplexing notion of causation. In particular, for example, power theorists claim that an ontology of powers can shed light on how a number of causes can combine to produce an effect. Recently, however, Baltimore has argued that when it comes to understanding how powers combine there is an explanatory gap that power theorists are yet to close. He calls this the ?interaction gap?. He considers two theories of how powers combine (?contribution combination? and ?mutual manifestation?) and argues that only one of these theories has the resources to bridge the interaction gap. In this paper I argue that the interaction gap is bigger than Baltimore recognises, and show that neither contribution combination nor mutual manifestation can bridge it. I then consider a third view: the ontology of power and influence and argue that this view has the resources to fully bridge the interaction gap. 4.00-5.30 Sam Baron (Dianoia Institute, Australian Catholic University) Causation and spacetime In the mid 20th century, a group of theorems showed that much of the metric structure of general relativity could be recovered from causal structure. This led a number of philosophers to defend a causal theory of spacetime, in which spatiotemporal relations were reduced to causal relations. The causal theory met with fierce opposition by the likes of Earman and Smart, and was largely abandoned within philosophy. In physics, however, the story is different: the theorems that motivated the causal theory of spacetime were developed into two approaches to quantum gravity: causal set theory and causal dynamic triangulation. In this talk, I will return to the causal theory of spacetime in light of recent physics and show that there is a version of it that endures philosophical scrutiny. Professor Kristie Miller ARC Future Fellow Joint Director, the Centre for Time School of Philosophical and Historical Inquiry and The Centre for Time The University of Sydney Sydney Australia Room S213, A 14 Main Quad kristie.miller at sydney.edu.au kristie_miller at yahoo.com Ph: +612 9036 9663 https://www.kristiemiller.net https://www.centrefortime.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: PastedGraphic-3.png Type: image/png Size: 551103 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: smime.p7s Type: application/pkcs7-signature Size: 1521 bytes Desc: not available URL: From calendar-notification at google.com Tue Aug 9 15:30:10 2022 From: calendar-notification at google.com (Google Calendar) Date: Tue, 09 Aug 2022 05:30:10 +0000 Subject: [SydPhil] Notification: Brian Hedden, "Counterfactual Decision Theory" @ Wed 10 Aug 2022 15:30 - 17:00 (AEST) (Seminars) Message-ID: <000000000000d9b81b05e5c83958@google.com> You have an upcoming event Brian Hedden, "Counterfactual Decision Theory" Wednesday 10 Aug 2022 ? 15:30 ? 17:00 Eastern Australia Time - Sydney Title: Counterfactual Decision TheorySimulcast via Zoom: https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/j/87937027507Abstract: I defend counterfactual decision theory, which says that you should evaluate an act in terms of which outcomes would likely obtain, were you to perform it. Counterfactual decision theory has traditionally been subsumed under causal decision theory as a particular formulation of the latter. This is a mistake. Counterfactual decision theory is importantly different from, and superior to, causal decision theory. Causation and counterfactuals come apart in three kinds of cases. In cases of overdetermination, an act can cause a good outcome without the latter counterfactually depending on the former. In cases of constitution, an act can constitute a good outcome rather than causing it. In cases of determinism, either the laws or the past counterfactually depend on your act, even though your act cannot cause the laws or the past to be different. In each of these cases, it is counterfactual decision theory which gives the right verdict, and for the right reasons. ~~//~~ Invitation from Google Calendar: https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/UDIMCvl1rKiWKVxO4HQ2QH5?domain=calendar.google.com You are receiving this email because you are an attendee of the event. To stop receiving future updates for this event, decline this event. Forwarding this invitation could allow any recipient to send a response to the organiser, be added to the guest list, invite others regardless of their own invitation status or modify your RSVP. Learn more https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/D8CVCwV1vMfL9rK0PHq8Cs9?domain=support.google.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From richard.menary at mq.edu.au Thu Aug 11 12:19:47 2022 From: richard.menary at mq.edu.au (Richard Menary) Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2022 02:19:47 +0000 Subject: [SydPhil] Reminder: Lecturer in Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence Macquarie Message-ID: The Department of Philosophy at Macquarie University is seeking to appoint a continuing, full time Lecturer in the Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence. Details of the position and teaching and research duties can be found here: Lecturer Application Page The position is open to specialists in ethics, epistemology and philosophy of mind with a research and teaching focus on Artificial Intelligence. Applications Close: 26th August 2022, 11:59pm (AEDT) Short listed candidates will be interviewed by a panel consisting of Distinguished Professor Wendy Rogers, Professor Wendy Lipworth, Associate Professor Paul Formosa, Associate Professor Mark Alfano, Professor Louise D?Arcens and chaired by Professor Richard Menary (Head of Department). Macquarie University is committed to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. The Department offers a program that reflects a commitment to traditional philosophical pluralism, with long-standing strengths in ethics, social philosophy, epistemology, and philosophy of mind. The Department has a commitment to diversity and inclusion with a focus on supporting women academics. There is regular discussion of gender equity at a Departmental level and a mentoring program led by Professors Wendy Rogers and Wendy Lipworth for academics at all stages. Regards, Richard Richard Menary Professor of Philosophy of Mind and Cognition Head of the Department of Philosophy Macquarie University Centre for Agency, Values and Ethics academia.edu site Phil Papers Profile Zoom: https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/mT8UCQnMBZf6r2n78Srl8No?domain=macquarie.zoom.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From vmitova at uj.ac.za Thu Aug 11 23:20:52 2022 From: vmitova at uj.ac.za (Mitova, Veli) Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2022 13:20:52 +0000 Subject: [SydPhil] African Ethics in and beyond the Continent | Book Symposium with Thad Metz | ACEPS | live and online at University of Johannesburg | 19 August 2022 Message-ID: A BOOK SYMPOSIUM WITH THAD METZ African Ethics in and beyond the Continent (2022, OUP) African Centre for Epistemology and Philosophy of Science (ACEPS), University of Johannesburg In person (by invitation): Regeneration Room, Madibeng, Auckland Park Campus On Teams: Register here 19 August 2022 (9:00?17:10 SAST) SPEAKERS ________________________________ Thad Metz ? University of Pretoria Lucy Allais ? Wits University Edwin Etieyibo ? Wits University Cornelius Ewuoso ? University of Cape Town Bernard Matolino ? University of KwaZulu-Natal Motsamai Molefe ? Fort Hare University Tony Oyowe ? University of Western Cape Dorcus Ramaphala ? Wits University LINKS Programme Buy Metz, T (2022). A Relational Moral Theory: African Ethics in and beyond the Continent. Oxford University Press. Professor Thad Metz ACEPS --- Veli Mitova Professor in Philosophy and Director of ACEPS University of Johannesburg ________________________________ This email and all contents are subject to the following disclaimer: https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/Sp4OCE8wmrtW9WYn0HZNWxk?domain=disclaimer.uj.ac.za -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From calendar-notification at google.com Fri Aug 12 15:30:14 2022 From: calendar-notification at google.com (Google Calendar) Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2022 05:30:14 +0000 Subject: [SydPhil] Notification: Stephen Macedo, "Refugehood Reconsidered" and "The Crisis... @ Thu 18 Aug 2022 15:30 - 19:00 (AEST) (Seminars) Message-ID: <0000000000009b1f2605e604935c@google.com> You have an upcoming event Stephen Macedo, "Refugehood Reconsidered" and "The Crisis of American Democracy" Thursday 18 Aug 2022 ? 15:30 ? 19:00 Eastern Australia Time - Sydney Stephen Macedo (Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Politics at Princeton University) will give two talks on Thursday August 18th at The University of Sydney. He?s a tremendous political philosopher, so please come on down if you?re interested.  Talk #1: Refugeehood Reconsidered: The Central American Migration CrisisThursday August 18th, 3:30pm-5:00pm, 341 Social Sciences Building, or via Zoom at: https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/j/82613443720 Abstract: There may be no area of public policy in advanced Western states more fraught with deep moral and practical dilemmas than those associated with migration.  The world now has more refugees than any time since World War II: 65-70 million by some estimates. Countries like Australia and the United States have general humanitarian duties and more specific obligations under international law to those who make credible claims for asylum.  The scope of these depends partly on the question: ?who is a refugee?? I explore the lively debate on that question, and the additional issue of reparative obligations arising from climate change and past state policies that have unjustly harmed sending countries.  Further complicating the question of what we ought to do, even for progressive policymakers, is the looming threat of right-wing populist backlash.   Talk #2: The Crisis of American Democracy: A Conversation With Stephen MacedoThursday August 18th , 6-7pm, The Michael Spence Building (F23), Auditorium 1Please RSVP here: https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/6XD2CVARKgClw5Lw1tGV3IW?domain=ussc.edu.au  Abstract: The January 6 Select Committee hearings highlight points of crisis in American democracy, yet the roots of these challenges undeniably precede the Capitol riots given US economic, social and cultural trends. Princeton University professor and political scientist Stephen Macedo's authoritative work on immigration, liberalism, populism, and democratic theory explores such trends. What are the most important economic, social, and cultural trends fuelling these tensions in US democracy? What can be done to strengthen and improve American democracy? What are the implications for Australia?If you have any questions, please contact Professor Alexandre Lefebvre (alex.lefebvre at sydney.edu.au) ~~//~~ Invitation from Google Calendar: https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/Zr7ZCWLVXkUj9Pg9vIxlqDR?domain=calendar.google.com You are receiving this email because you are an attendee of the event. To stop receiving future updates for this event, decline this event. Forwarding this invitation could allow any recipient to send a response to the organiser, be added to the guest list, invite others regardless of their own invitation status or modify your RSVP. Learn more https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/K81ICXLW2mUn5qy53TDWe8s?domain=support.google.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: