Department of Philosophy

My current research covers a broad range of topics in contemporary epistemology, including the nature of empirical justification, skepticism, testimony, epistemic reasons and epistemic normativity, and the relation between epistemological categories and our practices of assertion and justification. Much of my work in epistemology is continuous with issues in metaethics, moral psychology, philosophy of action, and discussions of the nature of commonsense psychological explanation. I have historical interests including Ancient Greek Philosophy, Kant, Wittgenstein, and the history of Analytic Philosophy. Despite my work's contemporary flavor, I see it as belonging in large part to a tradition which includes G. E. Moore, Wittgenstein, and J. L. Austin. Someday I hope to write a study of (the history of) Ordinary Language Philosophy clarifying its aims and methods, its genuine weaknesses, and its lasting contributions. Some representative publications are "Epistemological Externalism and the Project of Traditional Epistemology" (Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, May 2005), "A Localist Solution to the Regress of Epistemic Justification" (Australasian Journal of Philosophy, Sept. 2005), "On Justifying and Being Justified" (Philosophical Issues, 14, 2004). I have taught graduate courses on Empirical Justification, Testimony, History of Analytic Philosophy (Sellars, Quine, Davidson), and Epistemic and Practical Normativity (with Kevin Toh). Undergraduate courses include: Epistemology, Philosophy of Action, and the Later Wittgenstein. I am involved in dissertation projects on topics including a priori knowledge, perception, the epistemological aspects of classification, epistemic responsibility, and Kierkegaard on communication.