Choice Group Seminar by Darren Bradley (University of Leeds): ‘How to Lose Your Memory Without Losing Your Money: Shifty Epistemology and Dutch Strategies’

Abstract: An objection to shifty epistemologies such as subject-sensitive invariantism is that it predicts that agents are susceptible to guaranteed losses. Bob Beddor (2021) argues that these guaranteed losses are not a symptom of irrationality, on the grounds that forgetful agents are susceptible to guaranteed losses without being irrational. I agree that forgetful agents are susceptible to guaranteed losses without being irrational – but when we investigate why, the analogy with shifty epistemology breaks down. I argue that agents with shifty epistemologies are susceptible to guaranteed losses in a way which is a symptom of irrationality. Along the way I make a suggestion about what it takes for an agent to be coherent over time. I close by offering a taxonomy of shifty epistemologies.

Darren Bradley is a Professor of Metaphysics and Epistemology at the University of Leeds.

This event will take place in person on LSE’s campus. However, those unable to attend in person will have the option of taking part online.

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• Zoom link for this for this meeting: https://lse.zoom.us/j/6613924533 

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