DESCRIPTION

Conceptual engineering focuses on how to best assess and improve our conceptual toolkits. In less than half a decade, it has become a central topic of contemporary analytic philosophy. Current work in conceptual engineering goes in two main directions. Case study research, on the one hand, which focuses on specific concepts and then advocates for specific improvement. Metaphilosophical research, on the other hand, which explicitly focuses on conceptual engineering qua philosophical method and deals, for instance, with issues related to its theoretical foundations. The ACE Conference takes the next step: It bridges the gap between these two trends of research in conceptual engineering and focuses on how conceptual engineering actually works. Thereby, it aims to contribute to turning conceptual engineering into a form of applied philosophy that has a direct bearing on areas of practical concern.

SPEAKERS

Invited Speakers

• Herman Cappelen (Hong Kong University)
• Nancy Cartwright (Durham University)
• Catarina Dutilh Novaes (VU Amsterdam/University of St Andrews)
• Manuel Gustavo Isaac (Swiss NSF/University of St Andrews)
• Édouard Machery (University of Pittsburgh)
• Michela Massimi (University of Edinburgh)
• Kevin Scharp (University of St Andrews)
• Nicholas Shea (University of London)

Contributed speakers (4): TBA

PROVISIONAL TIMETABLE

The conference will run over three days, divided into four thematic sessions. Each session will include three one-hour talks.

FUNDING

THOUGHT Trust Conference Grant