James Tartaglia | Keele University (original) (raw)
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Papers by James Tartaglia
Metaphilosophy, Apr 15, 2024
The ethnophilosophy debate in African philosophy has been primarily concerned with the nature and... more The ethnophilosophy debate in African philosophy has been primarily concerned with the nature and future direction of African philosophy, but I approach it in search of lessons about philosophy in general. I show how this ongoing debate has been obscured by varying understandings of "ethnophilosophy" and that a de facto victory has long since transpired, since "ethnophilosophy", in the sense I recommend, is flourishing. I argue that the political arguments with which Hountondji and Wiredu initiated the debate in the 1970s supervene on the metaphilosophical view that ethnophilosophy, if philosophy at all, is of a poor standard. Showing that ethnophilosophy must indeed be philosophy, I argue that the critics' low opinions of it depend on unrealistic assumptions about how philosophy makes progress. I conclude that Africa is lucky to have ethnophilosophies and that the rest of the world should hope to develop some.
![Research paper thumbnail of Free will and believing in determinism [English original]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/118102828/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](![Research paper thumbnail of Wolna wola a wiara w determinizm [polskie tłumaczenie]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/118102826/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](Artykuł porusza kwestię wolnej woli i determinizmu za pomocą dyskusji nad paradoksem Newcomba, pr... more Artykuł porusza kwestię wolnej woli i determinizmu za pomocą dyskusji nad paradoksem Newcomba, przedstawionej w postaci dialogu między duchami-paniami Traf i Przeznaczenie. Argumentuję, że przyjęcie determinizmu, sugerowanego przez metafizykę materialistyczną, stoi w sprzeczności z naszym doświadczeniem wolności wyboru. Paradoks Newcomba opisuje dylemat polegający na wyborze między jednym lub dwoma pudełkami w celu maksymalizacji zawartości tych pudełek, którą z góry określiła maszyna przewidująca wybór. Postać Heather, stawiając czoła temu dylematowi, symbolizuje ludzkość borykającą się z problemem wolnej woli w obliczu determinizmu. Twierdzę, że nasze doświadczenie wolności nie pozwala nam wierzyć, że determinizm jest prawdziwy, gdy odpowiednio się nad tą kwestią zastanowimy, podobnie jak Heather nie była w stanie uwierzyć w determinizm, kiedy musiała dokonać wyboru w sytuacji opisanej w paradoksie.
This essay begins by asking why Rorty would endorse a physicalist agenda which, on the face of it... more This essay begins by asking why Rorty would endorse a physicalist agenda which, on the face of it, ran counter to his aims in philosophy; and concludes both that his motivation was confused, and that he failed to detach physicalism from metaphysics and scienticism. I begin by showing the importance of metaphilosophy to Rorty's position on consciousness, and the centrality of consciousness to his overall project. I then summarise Rorty's position, which was essentially derived from Ryle, but uniquely driven by metaphilosophy. My assessment begins by disputing Rorty's thesis about the historical origins of the concept of consciousness, before following him into his favourite argumentative territory by talking about the social utility of first-person reflection on consciousness, and his own motivations for wanting to undermine such reflection. I conclude that because of his obsession with religion, Rorty became entangled in a scientistic agenda he should have opposed.
Human Affairs, Oct 1, 2022
The Dictionary of Twentieth-Century British Philosophers, 2005
Routledge eBooks, Dec 21, 2020
This book offers a philosophical defence of nihilism. The authors argue that the concept of nihil... more This book offers a philosophical defence of nihilism. The authors argue that the concept of nihilism has been employed pejoratively by almost all philosophers and religious leaders to indicate a widespread cultural crisis of truth, meaning, or morals. Many religious believers think atheism leads to moral chaos (because it leads to nihilism), and atheists typically insist that we can make life meaningful through our own actions (thereby avoiding nihilism). In this way, both sides conflate the cosmic sense of meaning at stake with a social sense of meaning. This book charts a third course between extremist and alarmist views of nihilism. It casts doubt on the assumption that nihilism is something to fear, or a problem which human culture should overcome by way of seeking, discovering, or making meaning. In this way, the authors believe that a revised understanding of nihilism can help remove a significant barrier of misunderstanding between religious believers and atheists. A Defence of Nihilism will be of interest to scholars and students in philosophy, religion, and other disciplines who are interested in questions surrounding the meaning of life.
Routledge eBooks, Dec 21, 2020
Routledge eBooks, Dec 21, 2020
Routledge eBooks, Dec 21, 2020
This essay comprises an overview of the plot to Rorty's Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature, foll... more This essay comprises an overview of the plot to Rorty's Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature, followed by a more detailed examination of the three parts of the book. It begins by showing the importance of metaphilosophy to Rorty's project, while explaining the significance of PMN for both Rorty's philosophy as a whole, and the history of philosophy. Then follows the overview, after which I explain the detail of Rorty's arguments, while developing a line of argument to show that Rorty's final conclusion that there is no objective truth-because the world can be endlessly redescribed-undermines his argumentative strategy. Taking into account Rorty's standard response, according to which he was making a pragmatic social proposal, I conclude that Rorty's desire to avoid the nihilistic conclusion that life is meaningless, led him to transform existentialism into postmodernism; and that the result, however brilliant, is nevertheless unstable and badly motivated.
Springer eBooks, 2023
I begin with a defence of both Gyekye's universalist and African metaphilosophies. In lig... more I begin with a defence of both Gyekye's universalist and African metaphilosophies. In light of these metaphilosophies, I discuss the contemporary Western hegemony of materialist philosophy of mind and its origins in Gilbert Ryle's The Concept of Mind (1949), showing that the existence and nature of the traditional Akan philosophy, as elaborated by Gyekye,
ethics, one founded on the idea of a certain un-normative respect towards the Earth, which we, as... more ethics, one founded on the idea of a certain un-normative respect towards the Earth, which we, as humans, can never pretend to appropriate or sovereignly possess. But the author opens to much more indeed: Blok opens to a certain test for our humanity. The test of re-thinking another beginning for the Earth by actively engaging in the possibility of changing our relation to our world – that is by significatively deciding for the event of Earth to inhabit our world, electing the Earth to incessantly suspend the pretended unity of our world by informing it otherwise as the multiple possibilities of the Earth. Heidegger’s Concept of Philosophical Method is not only an exegesis of Heidegger’s philosophy. It brings this philosophy to its limits and urges it to seek for its own-most meaning elsewhere than in the confines of its determined logic. For it poses this central question, a question perhaps still to come in Vincent Blok’s philosophical work and writing: to which futurity are we heading in the conativity, non-identity, responsiveness, performative behaviour and eventuality of the Earth for our world?
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc eBooks, 2015
Th is book is dedicated with love to Zo Hoida Preface x I would like to take this opportunity to ... more Th is book is dedicated with love to Zo Hoida Preface x I would like to take this opportunity to thank my parents Phillip and Terena Tartaglia for an upbringing that emphasized the importance of ambition, and for providing me every opportunity to realize my ambitions within their power. And I am always very grateful to my teachers in philosophy, Tim Crane and J. J. Valberg, who set me on the right track to start with, and helped me get into the profession. If it hadn't been for Jerry's lectures on Heidegger, I would never have wanted to be a philosopher in the first place; his own original philosophy was to become one of my major influences, as should become clear in this book. And if Tim hadn't thought my essays on (e.g.) Russell's Theory of Descriptions were good, then I would have scrapped the idea of a career in philosophy and looked elsewhere. Thanks are also due to Keele University for giving me three distinct periods of research leave to work on this book; the second was wonderful because I was able to spend it in Ponte de Lima in the Minho (that's where it started to take on its current shape: amid the caipirinhas, arroz de sarrabulho and folklore). And finally, there are a number of people who have directly affected the content here and therein various different ways-all of whom I would like to thank.
Human Affairs
I begin by clarifying Tallis’s revisionary terminology, showing how he redraws the lines of the t... more I begin by clarifying Tallis’s revisionary terminology, showing how he redraws the lines of the traditional debate about free will by classifying himself as a compatibilist, when in standard terms he is an incompatibilist. I then examine what I take to be the two main lines of argument in Freedom, which I call the Mysterian Argument and the Intentionality Argument. I argue that neither can do the required work on its own, so I ask how they are supposed to combine. I then argue that a commitment to the ontological priority of everydayness, of the kind suggested in chapters 5 and 6 of Freedom, might combine the arguments in such a way as to secure Tallis’s conclusion. I conclude that the argument of Freedom requires positive metaphysical commitment of a kind Tallis has yet to provide.
University of London, 2002
Metaphilosophy, Apr 15, 2024
The ethnophilosophy debate in African philosophy has been primarily concerned with the nature and... more The ethnophilosophy debate in African philosophy has been primarily concerned with the nature and future direction of African philosophy, but I approach it in search of lessons about philosophy in general. I show how this ongoing debate has been obscured by varying understandings of "ethnophilosophy" and that a de facto victory has long since transpired, since "ethnophilosophy", in the sense I recommend, is flourishing. I argue that the political arguments with which Hountondji and Wiredu initiated the debate in the 1970s supervene on the metaphilosophical view that ethnophilosophy, if philosophy at all, is of a poor standard. Showing that ethnophilosophy must indeed be philosophy, I argue that the critics' low opinions of it depend on unrealistic assumptions about how philosophy makes progress. I conclude that Africa is lucky to have ethnophilosophies and that the rest of the world should hope to develop some.
Artykuł porusza kwestię wolnej woli i determinizmu za pomocą dyskusji nad paradoksem Newcomba, pr... more Artykuł porusza kwestię wolnej woli i determinizmu za pomocą dyskusji nad paradoksem Newcomba, przedstawionej w postaci dialogu między duchami-paniami Traf i Przeznaczenie. Argumentuję, że przyjęcie determinizmu, sugerowanego przez metafizykę materialistyczną, stoi w sprzeczności z naszym doświadczeniem wolności wyboru. Paradoks Newcomba opisuje dylemat polegający na wyborze między jednym lub dwoma pudełkami w celu maksymalizacji zawartości tych pudełek, którą z góry określiła maszyna przewidująca wybór. Postać Heather, stawiając czoła temu dylematowi, symbolizuje ludzkość borykającą się z problemem wolnej woli w obliczu determinizmu. Twierdzę, że nasze doświadczenie wolności nie pozwala nam wierzyć, że determinizm jest prawdziwy, gdy odpowiednio się nad tą kwestią zastanowimy, podobnie jak Heather nie była w stanie uwierzyć w determinizm, kiedy musiała dokonać wyboru w sytuacji opisanej w paradoksie.
This essay begins by asking why Rorty would endorse a physicalist agenda which, on the face of it... more This essay begins by asking why Rorty would endorse a physicalist agenda which, on the face of it, ran counter to his aims in philosophy; and concludes both that his motivation was confused, and that he failed to detach physicalism from metaphysics and scienticism. I begin by showing the importance of metaphilosophy to Rorty's position on consciousness, and the centrality of consciousness to his overall project. I then summarise Rorty's position, which was essentially derived from Ryle, but uniquely driven by metaphilosophy. My assessment begins by disputing Rorty's thesis about the historical origins of the concept of consciousness, before following him into his favourite argumentative territory by talking about the social utility of first-person reflection on consciousness, and his own motivations for wanting to undermine such reflection. I conclude that because of his obsession with religion, Rorty became entangled in a scientistic agenda he should have opposed.
Human Affairs, Oct 1, 2022
The Dictionary of Twentieth-Century British Philosophers, 2005
Routledge eBooks, Dec 21, 2020
This book offers a philosophical defence of nihilism. The authors argue that the concept of nihil... more This book offers a philosophical defence of nihilism. The authors argue that the concept of nihilism has been employed pejoratively by almost all philosophers and religious leaders to indicate a widespread cultural crisis of truth, meaning, or morals. Many religious believers think atheism leads to moral chaos (because it leads to nihilism), and atheists typically insist that we can make life meaningful through our own actions (thereby avoiding nihilism). In this way, both sides conflate the cosmic sense of meaning at stake with a social sense of meaning. This book charts a third course between extremist and alarmist views of nihilism. It casts doubt on the assumption that nihilism is something to fear, or a problem which human culture should overcome by way of seeking, discovering, or making meaning. In this way, the authors believe that a revised understanding of nihilism can help remove a significant barrier of misunderstanding between religious believers and atheists. A Defence of Nihilism will be of interest to scholars and students in philosophy, religion, and other disciplines who are interested in questions surrounding the meaning of life.
Routledge eBooks, Dec 21, 2020
Routledge eBooks, Dec 21, 2020
Routledge eBooks, Dec 21, 2020
This essay comprises an overview of the plot to Rorty's Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature, foll... more This essay comprises an overview of the plot to Rorty's Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature, followed by a more detailed examination of the three parts of the book. It begins by showing the importance of metaphilosophy to Rorty's project, while explaining the significance of PMN for both Rorty's philosophy as a whole, and the history of philosophy. Then follows the overview, after which I explain the detail of Rorty's arguments, while developing a line of argument to show that Rorty's final conclusion that there is no objective truth-because the world can be endlessly redescribed-undermines his argumentative strategy. Taking into account Rorty's standard response, according to which he was making a pragmatic social proposal, I conclude that Rorty's desire to avoid the nihilistic conclusion that life is meaningless, led him to transform existentialism into postmodernism; and that the result, however brilliant, is nevertheless unstable and badly motivated.
Springer eBooks, 2023
I begin with a defence of both Gyekye's universalist and African metaphilosophies. In lig... more I begin with a defence of both Gyekye's universalist and African metaphilosophies. In light of these metaphilosophies, I discuss the contemporary Western hegemony of materialist philosophy of mind and its origins in Gilbert Ryle's The Concept of Mind (1949), showing that the existence and nature of the traditional Akan philosophy, as elaborated by Gyekye,
ethics, one founded on the idea of a certain un-normative respect towards the Earth, which we, as... more ethics, one founded on the idea of a certain un-normative respect towards the Earth, which we, as humans, can never pretend to appropriate or sovereignly possess. But the author opens to much more indeed: Blok opens to a certain test for our humanity. The test of re-thinking another beginning for the Earth by actively engaging in the possibility of changing our relation to our world – that is by significatively deciding for the event of Earth to inhabit our world, electing the Earth to incessantly suspend the pretended unity of our world by informing it otherwise as the multiple possibilities of the Earth. Heidegger’s Concept of Philosophical Method is not only an exegesis of Heidegger’s philosophy. It brings this philosophy to its limits and urges it to seek for its own-most meaning elsewhere than in the confines of its determined logic. For it poses this central question, a question perhaps still to come in Vincent Blok’s philosophical work and writing: to which futurity are we heading in the conativity, non-identity, responsiveness, performative behaviour and eventuality of the Earth for our world?
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc eBooks, 2015
Th is book is dedicated with love to Zo Hoida Preface x I would like to take this opportunity to ... more Th is book is dedicated with love to Zo Hoida Preface x I would like to take this opportunity to thank my parents Phillip and Terena Tartaglia for an upbringing that emphasized the importance of ambition, and for providing me every opportunity to realize my ambitions within their power. And I am always very grateful to my teachers in philosophy, Tim Crane and J. J. Valberg, who set me on the right track to start with, and helped me get into the profession. If it hadn't been for Jerry's lectures on Heidegger, I would never have wanted to be a philosopher in the first place; his own original philosophy was to become one of my major influences, as should become clear in this book. And if Tim hadn't thought my essays on (e.g.) Russell's Theory of Descriptions were good, then I would have scrapped the idea of a career in philosophy and looked elsewhere. Thanks are also due to Keele University for giving me three distinct periods of research leave to work on this book; the second was wonderful because I was able to spend it in Ponte de Lima in the Minho (that's where it started to take on its current shape: amid the caipirinhas, arroz de sarrabulho and folklore). And finally, there are a number of people who have directly affected the content here and therein various different ways-all of whom I would like to thank.
Human Affairs
I begin by clarifying Tallis’s revisionary terminology, showing how he redraws the lines of the t... more I begin by clarifying Tallis’s revisionary terminology, showing how he redraws the lines of the traditional debate about free will by classifying himself as a compatibilist, when in standard terms he is an incompatibilist. I then examine what I take to be the two main lines of argument in Freedom, which I call the Mysterian Argument and the Intentionality Argument. I argue that neither can do the required work on its own, so I ask how they are supposed to combine. I then argue that a commitment to the ontological priority of everydayness, of the kind suggested in chapters 5 and 6 of Freedom, might combine the arguments in such a way as to secure Tallis’s conclusion. I conclude that the argument of Freedom requires positive metaphysical commitment of a kind Tallis has yet to provide.
University of London, 2002
Kant is the principal villain within Rorty's famous critique of Western philosophy, as presented ... more Kant is the principal villain within Rorty's famous critique of Western philosophy, as presented in Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature. Thus according to Rorty, Kant effectively invented philosophy as an academic discipline through a combination of some conceptual blunders, and the creation of an imaginative historical story according to which his own work was the synthesis of rationalism and empiricism. And yet at the end of Rorty's book, it is Kant who provides the basis of Rorty's positive proposal that we view the world 'bifocally', an idea that was reworked as 'irony' in his second major work, Continency, Irony, and Solidarity. This paper will explore the relationship between Rorty's positive and negative commitments to Kant, and argue that by allowing a Kantian influence into his thinking, his views become inconsistent. However without this influence, Rorty would have been unable to justify his pluralism, according to which invidious distinctions cannot be made between different types of discourse; as for instance in the claim that physics is more objective than ethics. Rorty could not live with Kant, but he could not live without him either.
This book is a collection of all the papers and essays published in the Special Issue “Nihilism a... more This book is a collection of all the papers and essays published in the
Special Issue “Nihilism and the Meaning of Life: A Philosophical Dialogue
with James Tartaglia,” Journal of Philosophy of Life, Vol.7, No.1, 2017,
pp.1-315. Two years ago, in 2015, we published the book Reconsidering
Meaning in Life: A Philosophical Dialogue with Thaddeus Metz, and after
the publication, one of the contributors to the above book, James Tartaglia, published his own intriguing philosophical book on the meaning of life and its connection with nihilism, entitled Philosophy in a Meaningless Life: A System of Nihilism, Consciousness and Reality (Bloomsbury 2016). I thought it would be a good idea to have a symposium on his book in the Journal of Philosophy of Life.
I invited ten philosophers who have a strong interest in this topic, and
edited a special volume dedicated to Tartaglia’s book. After receiving their papers, I asked James to write a reply to each of them, and in July this year we published a special issue in the Journal. You can read all of them, along with the replies by Tartaglia, in this single book.
Contributors: Raymond Angelo Belliotti, Mark Bernier, Joseph S. Catalano, Arindam Chakrabarti, Br... more Contributors: Raymond Angelo Belliotti, Mark Bernier, Joseph S. Catalano, Arindam Chakrabarti, Bridget Clarke, David E. Cooper, John Cottingham, Will Desmond, Nader El-Bizri, Edward Feser, Terry F. Godlove, Pedro Blas Gonzalez, A.C. Grayling, Reza Hosseini, Samuel Imbo, Alfred L. Ivry, Monte Ransome Johnson, Richard Kim, Stephen Leach, Genevieve Lloyd, A.A. Long, William McBride, Lissa McCullough, Alan Malachowski, Thaddeus Metz, Wendell O'Brien, Joshua W. Seachris, Mark Siderits, David Skrbina, Svavar Hrafn Svavarsson, Frans Svensson, James Tartaglia, Jonathan Webber, Amy E. Wendling, Robert Wicks, and Catherine Wilson.