Invited Speakers
Workshop in Ancient Philosophy - MT 2025
Chris Izgin (Oxford): 'Themistius on the Grasp of Axioms in the Posterior Analytics'
Abstract: In his Paraphrasis of Aristotle's Posterior Analytics, Themistius claims that the intellect grasps the per se attributes of which axioms are composed. However, he does not give any examples, leaving his account unsubstantiated. I aim to show that Aristotle’s principles of non-contradiction and of excluded middle, which are axioms common to all demonstrative sciences, are derivable from the per se attributes that are part of Aristotle’s definition of contradiction.
Chair: Ursula Coope
Rachel Barney (Toronto): 'Plato on the Normativity of Craft'
Location: Amersi Lecture Theatre, Brasenose College
Chair: Simon Shogry
Malcolm Keating (Smith College): 'Selves and Sky-flowers: Kumārila Bhaṭṭa on Metaphor and Nonexistents'
Abstract: The seventh-century philosopher Kumārila Bhaṭṭa, in explaining his theory of metaphor, also discusses the problem of negative existentials and nonreferring terms, for cases used by his Buddhist opponents, such as “There is no self” and “The self is a sky-flower.” I show how Kumārila’s broadly descriptivist solution to these puzzles acts as a defense of his preferred theory of metaphor. This case also illustrates the importance of taking Mīmāṃsā texts like the Tantravārttika seriously as philosophical works, even if, given their concern with Vedic hermeneutics, they are less often the topic of modern philosophical interest.
Chair: Monima Chadha
Francesca Masi (Università Ca’ Foscari, Venezia): 'The Physiology of the epibolē phantastikē tēs dianoias: Epicurus’ Letter to Herodotus 49–51'
Abstract: Diogenes Laërtius states that in the Canon, Epicurus introduced as criteria of truth sensations, prolēpseis, and affections, and the later Epicureans added to these the epibolai phantastikai tēs dianoias (DL X.31). This seems to be confirmed in a passage from Philodemus’ On Signs, which includes epibolai phantastikai tēs dianoias among other criteria (fr. 1 De Lacy).
The notion of epibolē phantastikē tēs dianoias rarely appears in Epicurus’ writings (KD 24; Ep. Hrd. 50–51). More frequently, Epicurus uses the term epibolē, possibly qualified according to the level of generality of its content (the distinction between partial (kata meros) and complete (athroa) epibolai, cf. Ep. Hrd. 35, 36, 69, 83), or the notion of epibolē associated with the genitives tēs dianoias and tōn kritēriōn (51), without reference to the adjective phantastikē. Although Epicurus also uses various expressions relating to epibolē in relevant passages of his work in which he discusses important methodological or physiological aspects of his doctrine, he never explains what it is. Interpreters have approached the subject of epibolē from a predominantly epistemological perspective, seeking precisely to establish:
-
what mental and cognitive act it is and what, if any, its content is;
-
in what relation it is to other cognitive states;
-
why the Epicureans felt the need to introduce the epibolē phantastikē tēs dianoias among the criteria of truth
Finally I will explain the relevance of this physiological interpretation of epibolē phantastikē tēs dianoias on the epistemological level as well. In particular I will show that it makes possible to clearly distinguish epibolē from other processes at the basis of other mental states, such as perception, thought, memory and prolepsis ; to explain why epibolē can occur without perception; to understand in what sense the Later Epicureans understood epibolē as an act of attention and how this should be intended in an atomistic psychological framework; to understand the summarising function it can have on the epistemological level; to clarify why it was elevated to the level of a criterion of truth.
Chair: Michail Peramatzis
- This is a speaker series devoted to discussing work in progress by speakers within and outside Oxford pertaining to the field
- Seminars take place on Thursdays at 4pm-6pm, in the Schwarzman Centre, Ryle Room (20.339)
- Convenors: Prof. Ursula Coope, Prof. Marion Durand, Prof. Alexander Bown
- Members of the Faculty, students, and visitors are welcome
- If you would like to go out to dinner with the speaker, then please contact the chair of the meeting before Tuesday of that week
Interdisciplinary Research Seminar in the Study of Religions MT 2025: Mysticism & Religious Experience
Time: Tuesday, 28 October, 4:00-5:30pm
Location: Paul Oster Room, LMH
Title: Can We Speak of Buddhist Mysticism?
Speaker: Dr Szilvia Szanyi (Gordon Milburn Junior Research Fellow in the Study of Mysticism and Religious Experience, Campion Hall)
Time: 4:00-5:30pm
Location: Old Library, LMH
Title: Unwelcome Mysticism: A Paradoxical History of Jesuit Spirituality or the Invention of Spiritual Directors
Speaker: Revd Prof. Patrick Goujon, SJ (Senior Research Fellow in Theology and the History of Spirituality, Campion Hall)
Time: 4:00-5:30pm
Location: Old Library, LMH
Title: How Buddhists Stop Thinking and Get Away With It
Speaker: Prof. Rupert Gethin (Emeritus Professor, Department of Religion and Theology, University of Bristol)
Time: 4:00-5:30pm
Location: Old Library, LMH
Title: Catholic and Bhakta: An Irish Journey
Speaker: Shaunaka Rishi Das (Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, Hindu Chaplain to Oxford University)