Episteme - the Epistemology
research group in Geneva
Justification Revisited Conference
Geneva, march 25th-27th 2010
Programme FNS connaissance, raison et normes
Conference Theme
Post Gettier epistemology and the difficulty of analysing knowledge have often led to scepticism
about the notion of justification. It has suggested that one should either move beyond justification or simply get rid of this notion within epistemology.
But is the notion of justification useless ? The aim of this conference is to try to reformulate
these questions and to try to assess the credentials and the chances of a theory of justification for contemporary epistemology.
Some of the key questions and issues to be considered in this area include:
- - Is there room for the notion of justification if knowledge turns out to be unalysable ?
- - What are the relationships between epistemic justification and other kinds of justification (in particular in the ethical case)?
- - Is the notion of justification hopelessly subjective?
- - What are the relationships between evidence and justification ?
- - How can we draw the line between internalist and externalist conceptions of justification?
- -To what extent should the traditional debate between foundationalists and coherentists be thought of as standing at an impasse?
Invited speakers: Jessica Brown (University of St Andrews), Richard Fumerton (The University of Iowa), Adam Leite (Indiana University), Jonathan Sutton (Auburn University), Matthias Steup (Purdue University).
The conference is organised by Anne Meylan and Episteme within the FNS project Knowledge, Reasons and Norms.
Attendance is free and everybody is welcome.
Submissions
We cordially invite you to submit a 500 word abstract on any topic relevant to the conference theme. Please prepare your abstract for anonymous review.
Abstracts may be submitted (as plain text, MS Word, Pages, or pdf files) to the following e-mail address:
If you prefer to use regular mail please address your submission to:
Anne Meylan
Department of Philosophy
University of Geneva
5. rue de Candolle
1211 Genève 4
Switzerland
Deadlines
Abstracts should be submitted to the conference organizers by January 18th, 2010. Notification of acceptance / rejection: January 31st, 2010.
Financial Help
The three best submissions coming from Ph.D. students will be rewarded by having their travel and accommodation costs (at least partially) covered.
Questions
Should you have any query regarding this conference do not hesitate to contact the organization committee at the aforementioned email/regular addresses.Schedule
Conference venue and directions
Here is a map with main places where conference will take place (Uni Bastions, and Uni Mail).
To get there from the airport, the simplest and quickest way is to take a train (40 min). Just before going out of the arrival - luggage hall and moving towards exit, there is a machine which distributes free tickets to passengers arriving, for a one hour ride all over Geneva in all public transports. (Anyway, a single ticket for one hour costs CHF 3 or € 2.) Follow the sign "Geneve - Centre" at the airport train station and take any train, they all trains stop at the main train station (first stop). Then take the tram as indicated below.
To get there from the train station, take trams 13 or 15 direction Palettes to Plainpalais. (10 mins, ticket 3 CHF or 2eur to be bought at the tram stop.)
To move around in Geneva, the simplest way by far is to use public transportation - and if you have booked an hotel in Geneva, they have to provide you with a free day pass for all public transportation, do not forget to ask for it. The public transport company (TPG) have a useful route planner.The locations of the bus and tramway stops around the department and the main university building (Bastions) are indicated on the following plan, which is downloadable as gif, pdf and jpg (courtesy eidos!).
Accomodation
Here is a list of nearby hotels that you might find useful.
Further information
For further information please contact Anne Meylan.