Periodic Reporting for period 1 - RContext (Radical Contextualism and the Science of Meaning)
Período documentado: 2015-09-01 hasta 2017-08-31
Scientific work. Above we noted that the main scientific objective of the project was to develop a theory that would successfully respond to the challenge posed by radical contextualism. Part of this aim was to devise a formal rep- resentation of the phenomenon that motivates radical contextualism, for which the researcher needed to acquire relevant formal skills and competences. The researcher (whose background is theoretical philosophy) thus undertook an ex- tensive training in formal semantics and logic, including modal logic (Sept/Oct 2015; Paul Dekker), inquisitive semantics (Nov/Dec 2015, F. Roelofsen and J. Groenendijk) and formal structures for semantics (April/May 2016; Maria Aloni). These particular skills and formal methodologies were applied in developing three related formal theories of interpretation: an occasion-sensitive theory of declarative sentences (see Dobler 2017), occasion-sensitive semantics for objective predicates (Dobler, conditional acceptance in L&P) and occasion- sensitive inquisitive semantics (Dobler, under submission in Synthese).
Training. Progress of the researcher in terms of acquisition and implementation of new skills has been monitored in regular meetings with the project super- visor and co-supervisors (Martin Stokhof, Maria Aloni and Floris Roelofsen). Besides with her supervisors, the researcher discussed the formal framework with other members of the institute such as Robert van Rooij, Jakub Dotlacil, Nadine Theiler and Peter Hawke. As part of training and career development, in addition to auditing courses, the researcher supervised the Master in Logic project on radical contextualism (Laura Molenaar) and was on the examination committee for a MoL thesis. She also assisted on Logic, Language and Computation course (Sept-Dec 2017) and delivered a couple of lectures on Wittgenstein’s contemporary relevance (April 2016). The researcher took part in the organisation of Amsterdam Colloquium (2015) and Discourse and Philosophy Colloquium (Sept 2016-Dec 2017) and initiated an international research network (Wittgenstein) between several European and non-European universities (Cutting edge networking grant from the Faculty of Humanities, UvA awarded).
Dissemination and deliverables Intermediate and final scientific results have been presented at a number of workshops and conferences during the period of the project (e.g. OZSW 2015, ILLC Midwinter Colloquium 2016, CONTEXT 2017, InqBnB2 2017), and have been submitted for publication in philosophy and formal semantics journals.
Outreach. Both outreach activities took part in different European countries: in Norwich, UK the researcher helped organise an employability event (Nov 2015, UEA) aimed at sixth-form and junior philosophy students where different career options were discussed, including applying for European Commission grants. Another event took part at the University of Copenhagen (Nov 2017) where the researcher delivered a guest lecture to college students (psychology) on religious disagreement and belief revision (organiser: Maria Serban).
Publications:
Dobler, T. (2017). The Occasion‐Sensitivity of Thought. Topoi. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11245-017-9532-2
Dobler, T. (submitted). An inquisitive approach to occasion-sensitivity. Synthese.
Dobler, T. (submitted). Occasion-sensitive semantics for objective predicates. Linguistics and Philosophy. Download
Dobler, T. (2017). Occasion-sensitive semantics. In P. Brezillon, R. Turner, & C. Penco (Eds.), Modeling and Using Context: 10th International and Interdisciplinary Conference, CONTEXT 2017, Paris, France, June 20-23, 2017, (Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence ed., pp. 254-266). Springer.
Collins J., & Dobler, T. (eds.) (2018). The Philosophy of Charles Travis. Oxford University Press.