ISSN: 1946-2050
By Jaime Harrell
In this paper, I examine David Lewisʼ treatment of vagueness as a problem of “semantic indecision” and conclude that this position on vagueness is inconsistent with the metaphysics of his theory of modal realism. To reach this, I employ a thought experiment in which an exact counterpart of Lewis is subjected to a series of possible worlds treatments designed to satisfy Lewisʼ criteria for counterparthood and test the limits of semantic treatments of higher-order vagueness. I find that Lewisʼ suggestions for dealing with vagueness fails to pick out counterparts at several points in this series, even when given a satisfactorily precisified set of criteria for the qua relation.
[ pə líttik'l ] the branch of philosophy relating to civil administration or government
[ ri líjjən ] the branch of philosophy concerning the existence, nature, and worship of a deity or deities, and divine involvement in the universe and human life
[ mèttə fízziks ] the branch of philosophy concerned with the study of the nature of being and beings, existence, time and space, and causality
By Cuong Q. Nguyen
Last semester I posted a riddle regarded by a number of contemporary philosophers as the “hardest” logic puzzle in the world. Raymond Smullyan, a prominent logician and philosopher, has a number of logic puzzles available online for people to solve, and this particular puzzle received a lot of attention from our readers. After some considerable delay, here is both my solution and various other solutions to the puzzle. Enjoy!
The undergraduate students of Johns Hopkins University are pleased to announce that, for spring of 2009, the first publication of Prometheus, Johns Hopkins Undergraduate Philosophy Journal has been released. The journal may be viewed online by navigating to the archives section or clicking this link.
Prometheus is a peer-reviewed international undergraduate journal of philosophy providing a forum for scholarly discussion among undergraduates on both early and modern philosophy. The print journal emphasizes discussions on a broad range of philosophical topics emphasizing thoughtful analysis and creative solutions to early and modern philosophical …
The Hammond Society essay contest on “What is a good life?” has a new deadline of April 10, 2009. The winner will receive a $100 gift card to Barnes and Noble and 2nd place a $50 gift card. This contest is open to Johns Hopkins undergraduates only. For further details on the prompt and other requirements, click here to visit the original post.
LOCATION CHANGE: Maryland 114, 04/01 @ 8PM
Graduate Philosophy student Alexander James will be presenting a short talk and leading a discussion on “The philosopher within: Wittgenstein’s critical
reflection on the beginnings of philosophy.”
Coffee and snacks provided.
All are encouraged to attend.
For more information, see:
http://prometheus-journal.com/events/seminar/
By Cuong Q. Nguyen
Besides working on Prometheus, I like to distract myself from time to time trying to solve riddles and logic puzzles procured by philosophers. Raymond Smullyan, a prominent logician and philosopher, has a number of logic puzzles available online for people to solve. I’m proud to say that I solved a fair number of them but there’s this one particular puzzle by Smullyan that’s been coined by many philosophers to be “The hardest logic puzzle ever.” I found this early on in September 2008 and I’ve contemplated and quarreled with myself trying to solve this puzzle. Think you can solve it?
(5.00 out of 5) (5.00 out of 5) (5.00 out of 5) (5.00 out of 5) (5.00 out of 5)
