A Companion to Applied Philosophy (Blackwell Companions to Philosophy)

Applied Philosophy Has Been A Growing Area Of Research For The Last 40 Years. Until Now, However, Almost All Of This Research Has Been Centered Around The Field Of Ethics. A Companion To Applied Philosophy Breaks New Ground, Demonstrating That All Areas Of Philosophy, Including Epistemology, Metaphysics, Philosophy Of Science, And Philosophy Of Mind, Can Be Applied, And Are Relevant To Questions Of Everyday Life. This Perennial Topic In Philosophy Provides An Overview Of These Various Applied Philosophy Developments, Highlighting Similarities And Differences Between Various Areas Of Applied Philosophy, And Examining The Very Nature Of This Topic. It Is An Area To Which Many Of The Towering Figures In The History Of Philosophy Have Contributed, And This Timely Companion Demonstrates How Various Historical Contributions Are Actually Contributions Within Applied Philosophy, Even If They Are Not Traditionally Seen As Such. The Companion Contains 42 Essays Covering Major Areas Of Philosophy; The Articles Themselves Are All Original Contributions To The Literature And Represent The State Of The Art On This Topic, As Well As Offering A Map To The Current Debates. Kasper Lippert-rasmussen Is Professor Of Political Theory At The University Of Aarhus And Professor Ii In Philosophy At The University Of Tromso. He Is An Associate Editor Of Ethics And Was Chair Of The Society For Applied Philosophy From 2012 To 2014. Kimberley Brownlee Is Professor Of Philosophy At The University Of Warwick. Her Research Focuses On The Ethics Of Sociability, Social Rights, Social Virtues, And Freedom Of Association. David Coady Is A Senior Lecturer In Philosophy At The University Of Tasmania, Australia. --book Jacket. Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. The Nature Of Applied Philosophy -- 2. The Methodology Of Applied Philosophy / Kasper Lippert-rasmussen -- 3. The Value Of Applied Philosophy / David Archard -- 4. Applied Epistemology / Suzanne Uniacke -- 5. Gender And Feminist Epistemology / David Coady -- 6. The Epistemology Of Deliberative Democracy / Nancy Daukas -- 7. Information Markets / Fabienne Peter -- 8. Epistemology For (real) People / Kristoffer Ahlstrom-vij -- 9. Are Conspiracy Theorists Epistemically Vicious? / J.d. Trout / Michael Bishop -- 10. Experts In The Climate Change Debate / Charles R. Pigden -- 11. Freedom Of Expression, Diversity, And Truth / Ben Almassi -- 12. Applied Metaphysics / Klemens Kappel / Emil F.l. Moller / Bjorn Hallsson -- 13. Applied Philosophy Of Language / Katherine Hawley -- 14. Social Ontology And War / Emma Borg -- 15. The Metaphysics Of Gender / Seumas Miller -- 16. The Existence Of The Dead / Natalie Stoljar -- 17. Freedom Of Expression And Derogatory Words / Steven Luper -- 18. Applied Moral Philosophy / Caroline West -- 19. Neuroethics And Responsibility / Richard Arneson -- 20. Non-ideal Theory / Neil Levy -- 21. Death: Badness And Prudential Reasons / Zofia Stemplowska -- 22. Applied Political And Legal Philosophy / Jens Johanson -- 23. Legal Human Rights Theory / Michelle Madden Dempsey / Matthew Lister -- 24. Collectivism And Reductivism In The Ethics Of War / Samantha Besson -- 25. Freedom Of Association / Helen Frowe -- 26. Neuroethics And Criminal Justice / Kimberley Brownlee -- 27. Deliberative Democracy / Thomas Sobirk Petersen / Jesper Ryberg -- 28. Tax Ethics: Political And Individual / Thomas Christiano / Sameer Bajaj -- 29. Benefiting From Wrongdoing / George Tsai / Geoffrey Brennan -- 30. Freedom Of Religion And Expression / Avia Pasternak -- 31. Applied Philosophy Of Social Science: The Case Of The Social Construction Of Race / Larry Alexander -- 32. Social Constructivism In Social Science And Science Wars / Isaac Wiegman / Ron Mallon -- 33. Did Climate Change Cause That? / Finn Collin -- 34. Applied Aesthetics / Richard Corry -- 35. Thought Experiments In Aesthetics / David Davies -- 36. Aesthetic Value, Artistic Value, And Morality / Paisley Livingston / Mikael Pettersson -- 37. The Applied Philosophy Of Humor / Andrea Sauchelli -- 38. Applied Philosophy Of Religion / Noel Carroll -- 39. Thinking About Reported Miracles / C.a.j. Coady -- 40. Religion And Neuroscience / Timothy Mcgrew -- 41. Ancient Applied Philosophy / Monima Chadha -- 42. Modern Applied Philosophy: Kant On Theory And Practice / Chris Megone. Edited By Kasper Lippert-rasmussen, Kimberley Brownlee, And David Coady. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Title Page Copyright Page Contents Notes on Contributors Foreword Acknowledgments Part I Introductory Articles Chapter 1 The Nature of Applied Philosophy Introduction The Relevance Conception The Specificity Conception The Practical Conception The Activist Conception The Methodology Conception The Empirical Facts Conception The Audience Conception Conclusion Acknowledgments References Further Reading Chapter 2 The Methodology of Applied Philosophy Introduction: What Is Applied Philosophy? The Top-Down Model Bottom-Up Models Thought Experiments Expertise Concluding Thoughts References Further Reading Chapter 3 The Value of Applied Philosophy Differing Views and Different Modes Key Considerations and Assumptions Dual Points of Reference Challenges and Tensions How Should Applied Philosophy Be Practically Relevant? Concluding Remarks Acknowledgments References Further Reading Part II Epistemology Chapter 4 Applied Epistemology Notes References Further Reading Chapter 5 Gender and Feminist Epistemology Feminist Philosophy as Activist: Doing Philosophy as a Feminist Activist Feminist Epistemology: Changing Focus Situated Knowers and Feminist Standpoint Epistemology Feminist Epistemologies of Science Redefining Objectivity Testimonial Injustice, Ignorance, and Attention to Particulars Conclusion Acknowledgment References Further Reading Chapter 6 The Epistemology of Deliberative Democracy Introduction The Deliberative Conception of Democracy Instrumental Arguments for Deliberative Democracy Instrumental Arguments against Deliberative Democracy Non-instrumental Arguments for Deliberative Democracy Non-instrumental Arguments against Deliberative Democracy Concluding Remarks Chapter 7 Information Markets What Are Information Markets? Information Markets and Expertise Some Problems (and Solutions) Information Markets and Applied Social Epistemology: Three Applications Conclusion References Further Reading Chapter 8 Epistemology for (Real) People Normativity Belief Theories and Reasoning Theories How to Evaluate Reasoning Diagnostic Reasoning Consilience and Mongrel Epistemology Conclusion References Further Reading Chapter 9 Are Conspiracy Theorists Epistemically Vicious? Introduction Vice, Virtue, and the Intellect Conspiracies, Elites, and the Open Society On the Vices of Anti-Conspiracism Notes References Further Reading Chapter 10 Experts in the Climate Change Debate Introduction Expertise: Variations and Equivocations Trust (and Its Exploitation) in Climate Debates Climate Consensus and Credibility Going Forward References Further Reading Chapter 11 Freedom of Expression, Diversity, and Truth Deliberation and Diversity Diversity and the Invisible Hand Promoting Compliance with the Norms of Deliberation Concluding Remarks Acknowledgment References Further Reading Part III Metaphysics and Philosophy of Language Chapter 12 Applied Metaphysics Introduction Applying Metaphysics within Philosophy Case Study I: Applied Ontology Case Study II: Social Ontology Case Study III: Natural Kinds in Psychiatry and Medicine Further Examples Conclusions? Acknowledgments References Further Reading Chapter 13 Applied Philosophy of Language What Are We Studying When We Study Language? Philosophy of Language as Applied in Terms of Subject Matter The Ontology and Methodology of Natural Language Inquiry A Cognitively Real Semantic Theory and the Search for Evidence Conclusion References Further Reading Chapter 14 Social Ontology and War Introduction Armed Forces, Waging War, and Joint Action War, Collective Self-Defense, and Collective Moral Responsibility Individualism, Collectivism, and the Principles of Necessity, Proportionality, and Discrimination References Further Reading Chapter 15 The Metaphysics of Gender Introduction Philosophical Conceptions of Gender Essentialism and Anti-Essentialism Realism and Nominalism Conclusion Acknowledgments References Further Reading Chapter 16 The Existence of the Dead Being Dead Being Alive Being Neither Dead Nor Alive Resurrection Deathless Annihilation Annihilationless Death Death for Us Applied Philosophy Acknowledgment References Further Reading Chapter 17 Freedom of Expression and Derogatory Words Introduction Direct and Indirect Hate Speech Five Models of Hate Speech Hate Speech, Non-persuasive Influence, and Harm Regulating Vituperative Expression Hate Speech and Silencing Conclusion References Further Reading Part IV Ethics Chapter 18 Applied Moral Philosophy Introduction Results and Lessons of Following Reflective Equilibrium Methods: Opposed Views Conclusion References Further Reading Chapter 19 Neuroethics and Responsibility Introduction Neuroethics and the Mental States of Actors The Mental State of the Attributor References Further Reading Chapter 20 Non-ideal Theory What Is Non-ideal Theory? Varieties of Non-ideal Theory The Relationship between Ideal and Non-ideal Theory Non-ideal Theory, Realism and Applied Philosophy Acknowledgments References Further Reading Chapter 21 Death: Badness and Prudential Reasons Introduction The Lucretian Problem Psychological Relations Maximization of Intrinsic Value Concluding Remarks Acknowledgment References Further Reading Part V Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Law Chapter 22 Applied Political and Legal Philosophy Introduction Standard Activist Approach Extreme Activist Approach Conceptual Activist Approach Conclusion Notes References Further Reading Chapter 23 Legal Human Rights Theory Introduction From Human Rights Practice to Human Rights Theory: Law as the Missing Link The Law in “Political” and “Ethical” Human Rights Theories Human Rights Theory qua Legal Theory Legal Human Rights Theory as Applied Philosophy Conclusion References Further Reading Chapter 24 Collectivism and Reductivism in the Ethics of War The Ethics of War as Applied Philosophy The Origins of the Just War Tradition The Collectivist View The Individualist View Reductive Individualism: Implications and Objections Legitimate Authority Conclusion References Further Reading Chapter 25 Freedom of Association Introduction The Content of Freedom of Association The Scope and Value of Freedom of Association Conclusion Acknowledgments References Further Reading Chapter 26 Neuroethics and Criminal Justice Introduction Neuroscience and the Criminal Justice System Neuroethical Challenges Neuroscience and Criminal Justice Ethics Neuroscience, Criminal Justice, and Applied Philosophy Conclusion References Further Reading Chapter 27 Deliberative Democracy Introduction The Moral Ideal of Deliberative Democracy Cognitive Diversity in Deliberative Democracies The Problem of Rational Ignorance Inequality in Public Deliberation The Problem of Group Polarization References Further Reading Chapter 28 Tax Ethics: Political and Individual Introduction The Tax System? Tax Justice and Horizontal Equity Taxation and Liberty Taxpayer Morality Conclusion References Further Reading Chapter 29 Benefiting from Wrongdoing Introduction Benefiting from Wrongdoing as a Problem of Applied Philosophy Two Versions of the Principle of Wrongful Benefits Limiting the Principle The Principle of Wrongful Benefits and Luck Egalitarianism Conclusion References Further Reading Chapter 30 Freedom of Religion and Expression Freedom of Religion Freedom of Expression Conclusion Notes References Further Reading Part VI Philosophy of Science Chapter 31 Applied Philosophy of Social Science: The Case of the Social Construction of Race Denying the Biological Reality of Race Race as a Social Construction Generalist Elements in the Construction of Race Summary References Chapter 32 Social Constructivism in Social Science and Science Wars Introduction Constructivism and Natural Science The Science Wars Discourse Analysis: Laclau and Mouffe Social Constructivism in Feminist Philosophy The Impact of Constructivist Arguments Chapter 33 Did Climate Change Cause That? Increasing Probability The “But-For” Test: Causation as Counterfactual Dependence The Fraction of Attributable Risk The Butterfly Effect Probability Raising and Causal Influence Conclusion References Further Reading Part VII Aesthetics Chapter 34 Applied Aesthetics On the Very Idea of “Applied Aesthetics” The “Top-down” Model of Applied Philosophy in Ethics The Disciplinary Substructures of Ethics and Aesthetics Contrasted The Disciplinary Substructure of Philosophy of Art The Roles of Artistic Practice in Philosophical Thinking about the Arts Conclusions References Further Reading Chapter 35 Thought Experiments in Aesthetics A Theoretical Thought Experiment in Aesthetics Assessing the Borges-inspired Experimentation Practical and Productive Thought Experiments Coda References Further Reading Chapter 36 Aesthetic Value, Artistic Value, and Morality Aesthetic, Artistic, and Moral Values Autonomism Art, Cognitive Value, and Moral Education Ethicism Contextualism Art and Censorship References Further Reading Chapter 37 The Applied Philosophy of Humor Introduction The Philosophy of Humor Comic Amusement is an Emotion Bonding Coping Perspective Modification Summary References Part VIII Philosophy of Religion Chapter 38 Applied Philosophy of Religion Preliminary Reflections on the Character of Applied Philosophy of Religion Philosophy of Religion and the Practical Reality of Religion Religious Epistemology and Religious Authority Religion and Politics The Interdisciplinary Aspect Religious Experience and Religious Mysticism Religious Ethics Acknowledgments References Further Reading Chapter 39 Thinking about Reported Miracles Introduction Defining a Miracle Miracles and Deities Miracles and Evidence Identifying a Miracle When to Doubt a Miracle Report Evidence for a Reported Miracle References Further Reading Chapter 40 Religion and Neuroscience Introduction The Cognitive Science of Religion The Neuroscience of Meditation References Further Reading Part IX History of Applied Philosophy Chapter 41 Ancient Applied Philosophy Introduction Ancient Applied Philosophy and the Scope and Nature of Philosophy Ancient Applied Philosophy and Method in Philosophy Two Further Ways in Which Ancient Philosophy Is Applied Acknowledgments References Further Reading Chapter 42 Modern Applied Philosophy: Kant on Theory and Practice The Concepts of Theory and Practice, Especially in Right and Morality Kant vs. Garve: Theory and Practice in Moral Motivation Kant vs. Mendelssohn: Theory and Practice in the Moral Progress of Humanity Kant vs. Hobbes: Theory and Practice in Politics Notes References Further Reading Index EULA