Jonathan Eric Adler
CUNY Research Foundation, Brooklyn College (Brooklyn, NY 11210-2850)
FA-53244-07
Fellowships for University Teachers
Research Programs
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Totals:
$40,000 (approved)
$40,000 (awarded)
Grant period:
7/1/2008 – 6/30/2009
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Can Reason Criticize and Control Itself?
Self-control normally refers to reason’s ability to resist desires contrary to one’s judgment. My project is to complete a book on reason’s ability to control itself—to anticipate weaknesses in itself and to find ways to avoid or to mitigate them. The basic conceptual question is this: Since self-control by reason is self-control of reason, how can it be the judgment of reason (i.e. a reasoned judgment) not to listen to, or to censor, reason? The study develops a notion of epistemic authority (or deference) in relation to self-knowledge and forms of self-correction, and a new conception of fallibility.
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