Alex Carruth
Alex Carruth is a postgraduate researcher.
His primary philosophical interests lie in issues of ontology, contemporary and Scholastic metaphysics and the metaphysics of mind - especially issues relating to consciousness. He is also interested in phenomenology, Buddhist philosophy and aesthetics.
Thesis Title:
"C. B. Martin's 'Limit View', Distinctions of Reason and the metaphysics of mind."
Thesis Summary:
I'm interested in exploring and explaining how the often marginalised account of the ontology of properties that was originally proposed by C. B. Martin and is sometimes known as the 'Limit View', or 'Powerful Qualities' view of properties can be properly understood. The first half of my thesis focuses on providing a thorough exposition of this position, a defence against criticisms and an interpretation of the 'surprising identity' thesis which draws upon the resources of both late Scholastic philosophy - primarily the work of John Duns Scotus and Francisco Suarez - and of categorial ontology. The second explores some applications of this position to current issues in the metaphysics of mind - especially those relating to the dualism/monism debate and to the 'hard' problem of consciousness.
Supervisors
Prof. E.J.Lowe & Dr. Sophie Gibb
Teaching:
2011-2012
MA Seminar Leader:
Mind and Action (one seminar)
Tutoring:
2010-2011
Lecturing:
Tutoring:
2009-2010
Publications:
- 2009. 'In-the-eye-of-the-beholder? Understanding 'Surprising Identity': Seeing-As, but with a Ground.' Proceedings of the 2008 Durham-Bergen Philosophy Seminar
- 2008. 'A Problem for Being-with-Others'. Proceedings of the 2008 Durham-Bergen Philosophy Seminar. [forthcoming]
- 2007. 'Dennett's Stance: Legs Akimbo'. British Journal of Undergraduate Philosophy, 1, pp. 418-425
Presentations:
Mar 2012: 'Responding to the argument from conceivability'. Eidos, Durham.
Nov 2011: 'Understanding (?) the Concept of ‘Eminence’ in Suarezian and Cartesian Metaphysics'. Eidos, Durham.
June 2011: 'Identity and Ethics Online: an Ontological and Phenomenological Enquiry'. Personal Identity Online After the Information Revolution Workshop, University of Hertfordshire (co-authored with David Hill, York University)
June 2011: 'Existence, Reference, Paradox - Defending Serious Ontology'. Open Minds VI, University of Manchester
- Nov 2010. 'Composite Simples'? A Critique of D. W. Mertz's 'Network Instance Realism' Irish Philosophical Society Conference 'Convergences and Divergences: Philosophy in the Scholastic, Analytic, and Continental Traditions', Queens University, Belfast
- Oct 2010. 'Scholastic metaphysical distinctions and Martin's 'Limit View''. Eidos, Durham.
- April 2010. 'Mertz and Distinctions'. MLM Research Group Meeting, Durham.
- November 2009. 'Identity and Ethics in the Virtual: An Ontological and Phenomenological Enquiry'. Cyberspace 2009, Charles University/University of Brno (co-authored with D Hill, Sociology, York)
- September 2009. 'In-the-eye-of-the-beholder? Understanding 'Surprising Identity': Seeing-As, but with a Ground'. Durham-Bergen Philosophy Seminar.
- March 2009. 'Existence Questions, Reference and Paradox: A Critique of Thomasson's Defence of Ordinary Objects'. Eidos, Durham.
- January 2009. 'Martin's "Limit View"'. Mind, Language and Metaphysics Research Group Meeting, Durham.
- September 2008. 'A Problem for Being-with-Others'. Durham-Bergen Philosophy Seminar.
- August 2008. 'Molnar, Intrinsicality and Iterated Powers'. Annual Durham MA Conference.
- June 2008. 'Origin and Original Material Composition'. Durham Work In Progress Seminar.
Additional Academic activities and Awards:
Organiser, Metaphysics Reading Group, 2010-present
Chair, Eidos postgraduate discussion group, 2009-2010
Chair, Graduate Aesthetics Conference, Durham 2008
Treasurer, British Postgraduate Philosophy Association, 2010-
Organising committee, British Postgraduate Philosophy Conference, Summer 2010
Research Assistant, AHRC 'The New Ontology of the Mental Causation Debate' Project 2008-2010
- 2007-08. M.A. Scholarship. University of Durham, Faculty of Arts and Humanities.
- 2008-09. Durham Academic Scholarship. University of Durham.
- 2008-09. Educational Grant. Sir Richard Stapely Educational Trust
- 2008-11. Throckmorton Senior Exhibition. The Haberdashers' Company.
- 2008. MA Alumni Award. University of Durham, Department of Philosophy
-2009-2011. AHRC BGP Scholarship. Arts and Humanities Research Council.
Durham Research Community
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