The Stoics on Visual Perception

APA Central Division Meeting

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

(23 February 2024)

In this talk – which belongs to one of my current research projects – I endeavour to gain clarity on how the Stoics understand sense-perception to occur, focusing on visual perception – as this is the best-attested sense modality in the extant evidence. First, I elucidate three of the key components that the Stoics believe must be present in order for the paradigm case of vision to occur. I then explore the innovative mechanics of the Stoics’ account of visual perception.

Henry More on the Extended Mind

Forum Descartes

Paris, France

(18 January 2024)

In this paper I will consider one of the most-innovative aspects of Henry More’s (1614–1687) philosophical thought – namely, his substance dualism wherein both kinds of substance, Body and Spirit, are spatially extended, though Spirit, but not Body, is indiscerpible. My focus will be on the question of exactly how a Morean spirit could be extended, partes extra partes, yet be unable to undergo actual division – being said to be indiscerpible even by the power of God. I will consider four possibilities for how this might be the case – including those recently offered by Reid (2012) and Blank (2013) – but contend that none, ultimately, are satisfactory. I will then put forth my own interpretation of More’s account and argue that the indiscerpibility of spirits might be propitiously explained by his understanding of the fundamental unity of phenomenal consciousness. I will then then briefly conclude, having defended Morean dualism and the indiscerpibility of the extended mind.

Fourth Annual Rackham Interdisciplinary Workshop in Ancient Philosophy

(13–14 May 2023)

This workshop, which welcomed graduate student and early career faculty to speak on topics in the field of ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, took place on 13–14 May 2023 at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. The workshop’s keynote speaker was Christian Wildberg from the University of Pittsburgh. More details regarding the workshop and the submission process may be found on our PhilEvents CFP page.