I just got back from the AAP 2008 Conference in Melbourne.
Had a very pleasant time and enjoyed a whole range of papers in the areas of philosophy of mind, language and metaphysics. There were many other streams, but I stuck to my favourites.
Overall the papers were quite good and I got a lot out of them. The conference itself was well-organised and a joy to attend.
Though I did not present a paper myself this year, I certainly intend to attend Melbourne again next year for AAP 2009, and to present a paper there.
Highlights include:
Tim Crane making all the concessions in the world to Graham Priest concerning the existential come particular quantifier, save one – the one that matters – that there are things that do not exist. And then stopping his explanations there…
Jonathan Schaffer’s ‘Internal Relatedness of All Things’ which is an argument for dependence monism (all things are ultimately dependent on the one – the one is fundamental), which I think turns out simply to be the denial of de re modality.
The time symposium with Brian Ellis, Peter Forrest, John Bigelow. I think Prof. Ellis’ account of the asymmetry of time fell prey to a Euthyphro question by presupposing temporal asymmetry, Prof. Bigelow was laudable but unconvincing in defending presentism against STR. Prof. Forrest was convincing in his criticism of presentism… but it’s easier to attack than defend a theory, I suppose. I’m still a presentist, anyway.
Graham Priest’s talk, “All is One”, outlined how a radical structuralism can be derived from the notion of emptiness and the Net of Indra in one Buddhist tradition. Engaging as always.
David Chalmers’ obsession with his i-phone. I’m still not convinced by his view of the Extended Mind… but he was entertaining.
Also:
As a result of information I absorbed at the conference I have decided to shift my ground from substance dualism to property dualism, which is no small concession for a stubborn esotericist like me.
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