Talk @ASU Philosophy Club 3/19, 4.30 pm
On moral and political aspects of skeptical scenarios in the Meditations
Title: Dear Descartes: On Moral and Political Aspects of Skepticism in the Meditations
Abstract: This faux letter to Descartes explores moral and political aspects of various skeptical scenarios inspired by the Meditations. Though it has been regularly observed that skeptical scenarios have major implications, depending on the particulars, for the epistemic status of our beliefs, it is often ignored that such scenarios have varied and major implication for our moral and political beliefs too, e.g., property rights make more sense in the Matrix (skeptical) scenario than the dream (skeptical) scenario. And while many of our perceptual beliefs do not fare well across skeptical scenarios, our moral and political beliefs fare well epistemically in some scenarios rather than others, thereby prompting reason to hope that if we are the victims of a skeptical scenario, we occupy a scenario that fares better on moral and political fronts.
The talk will happen on the 3rd floor of the Coor building on the Tempe campus (ASU)
Indicate in the comments if you’re interested in or planning to attend.