Thought Experiments in Theoretical and
Practical Philosophy
Academic Program:
Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy
Level:
Doctoral
Type:
Elective
Semester:
Winter
Instructor:
Nenad Miscevic
Credits:
2.0
Description:
Thought experiments (TEs) are sometimes seen as the typical and central tool of philosophy, both
theoretical and practical-political. Since ancient times they have played an important role, but have
also been criticized as too armchair-ridden and abstract. Recently, the critics, self-style “experimental
philosophers”, have turned to cognitive science as a possible source of scientific criticism of thought
experimenting. The course gives a critical overview of the debate. It gives equal attention to thought
experiments in theoretical philosophy as to those in ethics and politics.
Course goal:
The primary goal of the course is to help students to understand the idea of thought experiment, to
recognize cases of TEs, and be able to evaluate them. They should also learn about the ancient and
modern criticism of thought experimenting, from Aristotle to experimental philosophy. Hopefully,
this will inspire students to try some thought-experimenting of their own, when developing and
defending their own views.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course students will be expected to understand the role of TEs in philosophy. They
will probably choose the attitude to them they think to be most plausible, and will be able to defend
their choice.
Teaching style
The course will combine some lecturing at the beginning, with more seminar work as it proceeds,
involving students in active participation.
Week
Theme
Readings
1
Introduction: Methods of
philosophy and thought
experiments (TEs). Some
main examples of TEs in
philosophy and science.
2
Main views on TEs:
Platonic understanding,
inferentialism,
counterfactual reasoning
and mental-models view
3
Intuition and the role of
imagination
4
The structure of TE –
stages
5
Political TEs (PTEs):
general
6
PTEs: criticism from
Aristotle, through Hegel
to present times
7
PTEs: the issue of realism
Ideal vs. non-ideal theory
Obligatory reading:
J. Robert Brown: Thought experiments,
Stanford
Additional readings
Selections from
Midwest Studies in Philosophy, XXXI (2007)
Obligatory reading:
J. Robert Brown: Peeking into Plato’s heaven
Miscevic: Mental models and TEs
Norton: Are thought experiments just what
you thought?
Additional reading:
Tim Williamson: Philosophy of philosophy, ch.
6, Thought experiments
Selections from
Jonathan Jenkins Ichikawa and Benjamin W.
Jarvis: The Rules of Thought
Obligatory readings:
Tamar Szabó Gendler: Philosophical Thought
Experiments, Intuitions, and Cognitive
Equilibrium
Tim Williamson: Knowing by Imagining
Additional reading:
Selections from
Knowledge Through Imagination, in
Metaphilosophy
Elijah Chudnoff: Intuition
Obligatory readings:
Miscevic: Wittgenstein’s Thought-Experiments
Additional reading:
Norman Daniels: Justice and justificationreflective equilibrium, ch. 1 & 2
Hilary Kornblith: What Reflective
Endorsement Cannot Do
Obligatory readings:
Miscevic: Political Thought Experiments from
Plato to Rawls
Rawls: Veil of ignorance (from Theory of
Justice)
Obligatory readings:
Miscevic: In Search Of The Reason And The
Right – Rousseau’s Social Contract As A
Thought Experiment
Zofia Stemplowska, Adam Swift:
Ideal and Nonideal Theory
Obligatory readings:
Estlund: Democratic authority, chapter XIV,
Utopophobia
Additional reading:
Selections from
Raymond Geuss: Philosophy and the real politics
8
Experimental philosophy:
questioning TEs
9
Defending TEs:
Expertize defense and
stages defense
10
Experimental philosophy:
conclusion
11
TEs in literature and art
12
Conclusion
Enzo Rossi &Matt Sleat: Realism in Normative
Political Theory
Obligatory readings:
Selections from
Joshua Knobe and Shaun Nichols: Experimental
philosophy
Obligatory readings:
Williamson: Philosophical Expertise and the
Burden of Proof
Miscevic: Intuitions
Additional reading:
Selections from:
Edouard Machery and Elizabeth O’Neill:
Current Controversies in Experimental Philosophy
Obligatory readings:
Jonathan M. Weinberg, Chad Gonnerman,
Cameron Buckner, Joshua Alexander: Are
Philosophers Expert Intuiters?
Additional reading:
Selections from:
Joshua Knobe, Tania Lombrozo, and Shaun
Nichols: Oxford Studies in Experimental
Philosophy: Volume 1
Obligatory readings:
David Davies: Can Philosophical Thought
Experiments Be ‘Screened’?
Geordie McComb: Thought Experiment,
Definition, and Literary Fiction
Obligatory readings:
Selections from:
Anthony Robert Booth and Darrell P.
Rowbottom: Intuitions
Requirements:
 regular attendance
 regular preparation
 active participation in discussions
 3 presentations throughout the term
 2000-word term paper
Assessment:
20% class participation; 20% presentations; 60% term paper