William Alston Lecture Series

The Alston Lecture Series, held in honor in William Alston’s life and work, will take place on September 22, 2023 from 3-5 p.m. in Hall of Languages 107.

William Alston was a treasured member of the Syracuse University Philosophy faculty for thirty years, from his appointment in 1979 until his death in 2009 at the age of 87. Although Professor Alston officially retired in 1992, he continued to teach and write for a number of years thereafter through a series of post-retirement appointments, and was always available to students and colleagues. His work set new standards of achievements in epistemology, philosophy of language, and philosophy of religion.

This year’s Alston Lecture will be delivered by Stephen Yablo (MIT), who will deliver a talk entitled “Less About More: The Grue Route to Hyperintensional Evidence.”

Abstract:

“First we solve Goodman’s new riddle. Then, the real work begins. What does the solution say about rational update? What does it tell us about the information encoded in logically complex statements, relative to that encoded in their parts? Morals will be drawn too for the logic and semantics of evidence-talk, the possible hyperintensionality of such talk, and the proper treatment of certain newfangled infinitary paradoxes. All this on the basis of an answer to grue that won’t convince anyone, such being the fate of answers to grue.”