Normativity and Experimental Philosophy

• Main Author: Abelson, Shannon Sylvie
• Other Authors: Philosophy
• Format: Others
• Published: Virginia Tech 2015
• Subjects: experimental philosophy
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10919/52368

The normative conception of philosophical methodology take as a starting point the teleological prioritization of practical knowledge over theoretical knowledge I examine what a normative philosopher might make of the emergent practice of experimental philosophy. Generally speaking, experimental philosophers set as their methodology the suspension of a priori reflection in favor of empirical experimentation in order to examine the cognitive factors that influence concept application and behavior. I begin by examining the normative view of philosophy. This view is rooted in a pursuit of practical knowledge, which is an inherently normative endeavor. I then consider how a normative philosopher might approach the role of X-phi. I examine two prominent X-phi projects in order to establish some criteria for meeting that normative philosophical expectation. I conclude that some X-phi projects may not meet the normative expectation because of a pervasive neglect of practical knowledge, while others do manage to incorporate a practical element and fall within the bounds of the normative conception. === Master of Arts