Week 3, Mar 11 Subject: University of Sydney Philosophy Seminar Series, Michael Devitt
Hi everyone, This week's speaker in the University of Sydney Philosophy Seminar Series is Michael Devitt The title of the talk is “The metaphysics of biological essentialism”. Abstract: The consensus against species having intrinsic essences has recently been challenged. The challengers have taken some account of criticisms of this essentialism, but they have not fully engaged with a range of criticisms, particularly those of Dupré, stemming from views of the metaphysics of essences in general. I argue that these views are largely mistaken. All kinds have essences which may be intrinsic, relational, or partly both. Essences are interesting because they are “super-explanatory”, explaining the kind’s place in the causal nexus. The case for species essentialism rests on this metaphysics of essences. Dupré’s metaphysics wrongly takes the following to count against essentialism: that species should be conceived of as individuals not kinds; a kind’s lack of sharp boundaries; variation and change in a kind; taxonomic pluralism. Finally, contra Dupré, classification in science, including biology, is of kinds with explanatory essences that it is the business of science to investigate. The seminar will take place at 4pm on Wednesday Mar 11 in the Philosophy Seminar Room (N494). Enquiries about the seminar series can be directed to [email protected] --------- SydPhil mailing list To unsubscribe, change your membership options, find answers to common problems, or visit our online archives, please go to the list information page: https://mailman.sydney.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/sydphil
