P H I L O S O P H Y P A T H W A Y S ISSN 2043-0728 http://philosophypathways.com/newsletter/ Issue No. 221 30th March 2018 CONTENTS Edited by Craig Skinner I. 'A Value-Based Solution to the Surprise Exam Paradox' by Terence Edward II. 'Radical Epistemological Relativism: A defense' by Agustin Moreno III. 'The Physics of Nothing: Are virtual particles an exception to the causal productive principle?' by Agustin Moreno IV. 'The Dalai Lama gathers his thoughts: Self as a construction' by Craig Skinner -=- EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION This issue comprises four articles. I hope there is something of interest for all [...] Read more... http://philosophypathways.com/articles/Craig_Skinner_Philosophy_ Pathways_Issue_221_Introduction.pdf (c) Craig Skinner 2018 Email: ingridandcraigskinner@btinternet.com About the editor: http://philosophypathways.com/newsletter/editor.html#skinner -=- I. 'A VALUE-BASED SOLUTION TO THE SURPRISE EXAM PARADOX' BY TERENCE EDWARD I identify an assumption that the students should not rely on: if the teacher believes that the exam would not be a surprise on a certain day, the teacher will not give the exam on that day. The reason I present for not making this assumption does not involve doubting the moral goodness of the teacher. But it does involve making a value judgment [...] Read more... http://philosophypathways.com/articles/Terence_Edward_A_Value-Based_ Solution_to_the_Suprise_Exam_Paradox.pdf (c) Terence Rajivan Edward Email: T.R.Edward@manchester.ac.uk -=- II. 'RADICAL EPISTEMOLOGICAL RELATIVISM: A DEFENSE' BY AGUSTIN MORENO Radical epistemological relativism is the view that every true proposition is true relative to at least some context or referential frame. The logical negation of such a thesis would be epistemological absolutism, according to which at least some true proposition is true independently of any context or referential frame [...] Read more... http://philosophypathways.com/articles/Agustin_Moreno_Radical_ Epistemological_Relativism_A_Defense.pdf (c) Agustin Moreno 2018 Email: philojuris@gmail.com -=- III. 'THE PHYSICS OF NOTHING: ARE VIRTUAL PARTICLES AN EXCEPTION TO THE CAUSAL PRODUCTIVE PRINCIPLE?' BY AGUSTIN MORENO [The causal productive principle] has been much discussed in the philosophical literature, especially in philosophy of religion and particularly in discussions about the so-called Kalam Cosmological Argument... Some participants in this debate have argued that quantum physics provides a decisive counter-example... In particular, the rejoinder is that the spontaneous emergence of the so-called virtual particles from the 'quantum vacuum' provides a decisive refutation [...] Read more... http://philosophypathways.com/articles/Agustin_Moreno_The_Physics_of_ Nothing_Are_Virtual_Particles_an_Exception_to_the_Causal_Productive_ Principle.pdf (c) Agustin Moreno 2018 Email: philojuris@gmail.com -=- IV. 'THE DALAI LAMA GATHERS HIS THOUGHTS: SELF AS A CONSTRUCTION' BY CRAIG SKINNER This dialogue is intended as a user-friendly way of arguing for a philosophical position and maybe stimulating a little discussion... During his visit to a Cognitive Research Unit, His Holiness is in discussion with a cognitive scientist [...] Read more... http://philosophypathways.com/articles/Craig_Skinner_The_Dalai_Lama_ Gathers_His_Thoughts_Self_as_Construction.pdf (c) Craig Skinner 2018 Email: ingridandcraigskinner@btinternet.com -=- Philosophy Pathways is the electronic newsletter for the Pathways to Philosophy distance learning program To subscribe or cancel your subscription please email your request to philosophypathways@fastmail.net or go online at https://lists.shef.ac.uk/sympa/info/philosophypathways Please send contributions, suggestions or comments to the List Manager Geoffrey Klempner klempner@fastmail.net The views expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of the Editors.