Do Different Groups Have Different Epistemic Intuitions? A Reply to Jennifer Nagel

Intuitions play an important role in contemporary epistemology. Over the last decade, however, experimental philosophers have published a number of studies suggesting that epistemic intuitions may vary in ways that challenge the widespread reliance on intuitions in epistemology. In a recent paper, Jennifer Nagel offers a pair of arguments aimed at showing that epistemic intuitions do not, in fact, vary in problematic ways. One of these arguments relies on a number of claims defended by appeal to the psychological literature on intuitive judgment and on mental state attribution (also known as “theory of mind”, “mindreading” and “folk psychology”). I call this the "theoretical argument". The other argument relies on recent experimental work carried out by Nagel and her collaborators. It is my contention that in setting out her theoretical argument, Nagel offers an account of the relevant scientific literature that is, in crucial respects, flawed and misleading. My main goal in this paper is to rectify these errors and to make it clear that, once this is done, Nagel’s theoretical argument collapses. Since Nagel’s experimental work has not yet been published, and available details are very sketchy, I do not discuss this work in detail. However, in the final section of the paper I offer some critical observations about Nagel’s strategy for dealing with empirical data that does not support her view – both other people’s and her own

Low-Risk Spacecraft-Inspection CubeSat

Our objective is to design a small, semi-autonomous inspection satellite to observe the exterior of a host spacecraft, such as the International Space Station (ISS) or large space-based telescope, with minimal risk to the host vehicle and its crew. As NASA learned in the Columbia tragedy, the lack of external inspection capability can lead to catastrophic results. In less extreme cases, the ability to inspect any high-value spacecraft could provide early warning for impending failures or maintenance, and could reduce requirements for time-costly robot-arm operations and/or high-risk Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA). In the extreme environment of space, two of the primary risks to vehicles are orbital-debris/micrometeorite impact and leakage of pressurized resources (gases and coolant). Although the value of spacecraft inspection is well-established, virtually no current spacecraft (including ISS) possess inspection capability. We believe that recent efforts in small-sat proximity operations, combined with advances in attitude control, propulsion, and navigation, sensors, and actuators on the cube-satellite scale now make it possible to create a safe and practical inspection satellite. The UC Davis team is currently defining the operations concept, mission objectives, safety requirements, and technology hurdles involved in the development of a disposable external inspection capability. The first priority for the design of an inspection-sat is the minimization of added risk due to collision. For net risk-reduction, it is essential that the added risk of collision between inspector and host is smaller than the risk mitigated by inspection. To achieve this, in addition to redundant and fail-safe navigation and control strategies, inspector momentum must be kept small to the point of posing an insignificant risk of damage in the case of collision. Low mass enabled by current subsystem technologies, along with low-velocity inspection-paths are required to minimize inspector kinetic energy. By making the design disposable, it does not return to the host. This ensures a safe distance can be maintained at all times during and after the inspection task. Furthermore, no docking or capture mechanisms are needed; therefore modifications to the host are not required. Our design includes human-augmented control of trajectory, relative velocity, attitude, and inspection tasks via real-time video telemetry to onboard operators. Efficiency will be increased by using a control scheme with predetermined optimized paths as well as adaptive navigation methods. Relative orbital motion will be used to minimize propellant usage. Automatic and manual abort commands will also be included so that a safe escape vector is available if a failure occurs. Spatial navigation of the inspector relative to the host spacecraft will be based on computer vision techniques applied to the known external geometry of the host. Lidar/radar subsystems will enhance the relative state vector and provide backup separation sensing. Inspection-Sat control actuation will be achieved through a dynamically-optimized combination of reaction control wheels and cold gas thrusters. A precursor to the computer navigation algorithm has already entered into testing phases. The current UC Davis efforts shall lay out the mission objectives, concept of operations, high-level requirements, and system architecture

Empiricism, innateness, and linguistic universals

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43388/1/11098_2004_Article_BF00354373.pd

Logical form and natural language

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43381/1/11098_2004_Article_BF00372902.pd

What every grammar does: A reply to Prof. Arbini

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47966/1/11406_2006_Article_BF02381630.pd

O Desafio da Filosofia Experimental à "Grande Tradição"

Abstract:Appeal to intuition has played an important role in philosophical debates. Recent research in experimental philosophy empirically investigates philosophical intuitions, the factors that affect them, and the psychological and neurological mechanisms that underlie them. We distinguish between two common ways in which intuitions are used as philosophical evidence and present experimental philosophical studies that problematize these uses of philosophical intuitions. These studies indicate the influence of various prima facie irrelevant factors, such as language and order of presentation, on philosophical intuitions. We consider three versions of the “expertise defense” of philosophical intuition and identify deficiencies in those defenses. We do not conclude that intuitions should never be used as philosophical evidence. Instead, we contend that experimental philosophy, broadly construed, has a crucial role to play in assessing and improving philosophical methodology Resumo: O apelo à intuição desempenhou até o presente um papel importante em debates filosóficos. Pesquisas recentes em filosofia experimental examinam as intuições filosóficas empiricamente, os fatores que as afetam e os mecanismos psicológicos e neurológicos que as subjazem. Distinguimos entre dois modos comuns nos quais as intuições são usadas como evidência filosófica e apresentamos estudos experimentais filosóficos que problematizam esses usos das intuições filosóficas. Esses estudos indicam a iFilosofia nfluência de diversos fatores prima facie irrelevantes, como a linguagem e a ordem de apresentação. Consideramos três versões da “defesa do especialista” da intuição filosófica e identificamos deficiências nessas defesas. Não concluímos que as intuições nunca devam ser usadas como evidência filosófica. Em vez disso, argumentamos que a filosofia experimental, amplamente concebida, tem um papel crucial a desempenhar na avaliação e na melhoria da metodologia filosófica

The Gettier Intuition from South America to Asia

This article examines whether people share the Gettier intuition (viz. that someone who has a true justified belief that p may nonetheless fail to know that p) in 24 sites, located in 23 countries (counting Hong-Kong as a distinct country) and across 17 languages. We also consider the possible influence of gender and personality on this intuition with a very large sample size. Finally, we examine whether the Gettier intuition varies across people as a function of their disposition to engage in “reflective” thinking

FAD binding, cobinamide binding and active site communication in the corrin reductase (CobR)

Adenosylcobalamin, the coenzyme form of vitamin B12, is one Nature's most complex coenzyme whose de novo biogenesis proceeds along either an anaerobic or aerobic metabolic pathway. The aerobic synthesis involves reduction of the centrally chelated cobalt metal ion of the corrin ring from Co(II) to Co(I) before adenosylation can take place. A corrin reductase (CobR) enzyme has been identified as the likely agent to catalyse this reduction of the metal ion. Herein, we reveal how Brucella melitensis CobR binds its coenzyme FAD (flavin dinucleotide) and we also show that the enzyme can bind a corrin substrate consistent with its role in reduction of the cobalt of the corrin ring. Stopped-flow kinetics and EPR reveal a mechanistic asymmetry in CobR dimer that provides a potential link between the two electron reduction by NADH to the single electron reduction of Co(II) to Co(I)