University of York

Department Member, Philosophy

Teaching Fellow

Thesis Title: The Myth of the Hidden

About

I am currently a teaching fellow at the University of York, UK. In 2010-11, I ran an MA module in ethics, a 2nd and 3rd year module in the Philosohpy of Language and a 2nd year module on classical and non-classical logic, which had both formal and philosophical components.
In 2011-12 I am running two 2nd year modules in the Philosophy of Language (Autumn term) and a 2nd year formal logic course (Spring term).

My research concerns perception and its role in securing our knowledge of each others' mental lives.

I am currently working on a number of papers. In 'The Inferentialist's Behaviour' I critically assess the predominant epistemic explanation of our knowledge of other minds. This is that it is grounded in a theory that best explains people's behaviours. I question how behaviours are classified such that they are best explained by others' mental states while at the same time entering into a theory that best explains all our knowledge of others' mental states.

At the same time I am working on a paper that questions the common assumption that when we see a three dimensional opaque object, this is in virtue of seeing its facing surface.
I am also working on a paper that questions the standard argument against the claim that reliability is sufficient to justify a belief.

Since 2009, I have had the pleasure of having two wonderful babies. For much of this time, I have also had the pleasure of being their primary caregiver.

I was awarded my Ph.D. in 2009. Entitled 'The Myth of the Hidden', this explored standard responses to the question of how we know what we do about each others' mental lives, and set out how Perceptualism would constitute a plausible alternative.