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Legal Philosophy as Philosophy

Yet another deliciously entertaining paper from Susan freely accessible here. Some of you may think that this shows that the civil-law custom of court-appointed experts has a distinct advantage over the common-law practice. And in some ways, no doubt, it does. But I’m not convinced it is better overall, and not just because the U.S.…

Post “ Post-Truth”: Are We There Yet?

One of my favorite, most formidable and most intellectually honest philosophers, Susan Haack, has made available this recent paper. (Stay tuned for an upcoming festschrift for Susan marking her 75!). If you find the “activism masquerading as inquiry” sorts tiresome and disingenuous, you should really check out Susan’s less technical stuff.   EpistemologyevidencemetaphysicsPeircepost modernismsusan haacktestimonyTruth

Five Answers on Pragmatism

Susan Haack has just made this available. pragmatism is best thought of, not as requiring these or those articles of faith, but simply as a broad congeries of philosophical attitudes Charles Sanders PeirceEpistemologyJohn DeweyPhilosophypragmatismRichard Rortysusan haackTruthWilliam James

Can Philosophy Be Saved?

The deliciously scathing and independent-minded Susan Haack in Free Inquiry. “The cannibal among the missionaries” — love it! This the quality of mind that I want and admire whatever one’s political persuasion.   AtheismCognitive sciencecoherentismEpistemologyidentity politicsnaturalismPhilosophypragmatismregressive leftscience and religionScientismsusan haack

The Embedded Epistemologist

I was startled to read, in the 6th edition of a well-known textbook, McCormick on Evidence, that the “reasonable doubt” formula “points to what we are really concerned with, the state of the jury’s mind,” whereas “preponderance of the evidence” and “clear and convincing evidence” “divert attention to the evidence.” This has things exactly backwards:…