Steven Levine

A Pragmatic Theory of Objectivity

In this paper I examine Davidson’s communicative-theoretic account of objectivity. Davidson argues that for a subject to grasp the concept of objectivity they must grasp that their thought and belief can be in error. He then argues that a grasp of error is made possible through their taking part in interpersonal linguistic communication about the world, what he calls ‘triangulation’. In this paper I try to show that this account of objectivity depends in a non-symmetrical way on a form of objectivity that is conferred through our perceptual encounter with the world. Indeed, I demonstrate that Davidson’s communicative account itself tacitly utilizes this prior form of objectivity—insofar as a grasp of error is dependent for Davidson on a subject’s already having in place a perceptual point of view on the world. I end by commenting on why my envisaged alterative account of objectivity can correctly be called a pragmatic theory of objectivity.

Sample Paper: Levine – Rehabilitating Objectivity

Presentation date and time:  10:30am-11:45, Saturday May 3rd, 2014.