Experimental Philosophy

WILLIAMSON'S CRIICISMS OF EXPERIMENTAL PHILOSOPHY

Summary of Williamson's Criticism

In his article, Timothy Williamson makes a number of severe criticisms against the discipline of experimental philosophy as described by Joshua Alexander in his book Experimental Philosophy -- An Introduction. Williamson's criticisms are mainly directed at the vague definitions offered by Alexander for the terms by which he describes the scope of experimental philosophy. Another major point of criticism is the unsubstantiated claims by Alexander on the basis of which he paints experimental philosophy as a revolutionary change in the field.

The first claim made by Williamson against the discipline of experimental philosophy is that it does not fit the traditional pattern that experimental findings can aid in the study of philosophical questions (p. 1). The basis of this criticism is the very nature of the experiments conducted in experimental philosophy. Williamson (p. 1) claims that the experiments merely...
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