papers

Ethical Concepts on Two Dimensions: The Semantics and Ontology of Facts That Tell Us What to Do

This is the first draft of my dissertation proposal.

A Two-Dimensional Analysis of Ethical Language

Abstract: Contemporary metaethics has developed under the implicit presupposition that there is a tension between the normativity and objectivity of ethical language. Mackie believed that this tension rendered ethical properties metaphysically queer, and consequently denied the existence of ethical facts. I argue against Mackie that the normativity and objectivity of ethical language can be understood in a naturalistic framework by appeal to two dimensional semantics. 2D semantics distinguishes two intensions that constitute the meanings of our words: the primary intension is a function from worlds considered as actual to extension, and the secondary intension is a function from counterfactual worlds to extension. I believe that we can accomodate the normativity and objectivity of ethical claims by appeal to primary and secondary intentsions, respectively.

How We Know We Have Hands

In this paper I consider Putnam's anti-skeptical argument from semantic externalism and defend it against some standard objections.

Why We Shouldn't Not Eat Cute Things

This is a response to Meg Wallace's FAQ page on her view, acutetarianism. And this is a picture of a cute kind of fish.