I'm a fourth year PhD student in philosophy at Rutgers University. I have broad interests, but recently most of my work has been on Pragmatism (especially William James), the theory of content determination, and on the philosophy of mathematics.
You can email me at:
tmedonaldson{at}gmail{dot}com
Implicit Definition and the Epistemology of Mathematics
In this paper I defend Bob Hale and Crispin Wright's 'neofregeanism' from the Kantian objection that existential generalisations can't be analytic.
Implicit Definition and the Epistemology of Mathematics.pdf
This is work in progress. I'll be happy to receive comments and criticisms.
Context Sensitivity
Written with Ernie Lepore, this is a philosophical introduction to context context sensitivity, written for undergraduates.
The final version of the paper will be published in the Routledge Companion to the Philosophy of Language.
Context Sensitivity.pdf
Does the Truth Have Cash Value?
In this paper I discuss Stephen Stich's claim, in The Fragmentation of Reason, that 'once we have a clear view of the matter, most of us will not find any value ... in having true beliefs.'
Cash Value (Short Version).pdf
A Reassessment of James's Theory of Truth
In this paper I discuss James's theory of truth. I explain the motivations for the theory, and argue that the standard objections aren't convincing. I finish by briefly explaining why I don't accept James's theory.
A Reassesment of James.pdf
Fall 2011: Introduction to Logic
This is my first time teaching logic. My syllabus, and the first few class handouts, are below.
First Handouts.pdf
Logic Syllabus.pdf
Students looking to download further materials should go to the Sakai site, at:
https://sakai.rutgers.edu/portal
Summer 2011: Hume, Kant and the Eighteenth Century.
My syllabus is below. The topics we covered were rather miscellaneous. This is because I polled the students about their interests on the first day of class, and then tailored the syllabus to their interests.
Eighteenth Century Syllabus.pdf
American Philosophy Syllabus.pdf
Summer 2010: American Philosophy.
This course was mostly about American pragmatism, and in particular James and Peirce. We also talked about Josiah Royce, Quine and Putnam. We also talked about some Europeans: Hume, Russell and Kant.
I'm into XC biking and canoeing, and I like to hike. The picture is of me in the Alps.
I play the 'cello, and sometimes the piano and classical guitar. Right now I'm learning a guitar study by Fernando Sor, and the Rachmaninoff 'cello sonata.
I like to make pancakes of all kinds.
my business copyright 2000 no animals were harmed in the making
