Yoorim In, Admission to the Ph.D. program at the University of Sourthern California

Yoorim In has accepted admission to the philosophy Ph.D. program at the University of Southern California, beginning this September. Congratulations!

Youllim Bae, Admission to the Ph.D. program at University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Youllim Bae has accepted admission to the philosophy Ph.D. program at University of Nebraska–Lincoln, beginning this September. Congratulations!

20th Korean Society for Analytic Philosophy Graduate Student Division Workshop (February 26)

We are pleased to announce the detailed schedule for the 20th Korean Society for Analytic Philosophy Graduate Student Division Workshop, as follows: Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 13:00 ~ 17:20 (Opening Ceremony at 12:55 PM) Venue: Room 31604, Toegye Humanities Hall, Sungkyunkwan University Humanities and Social Sciences Campus Keynote Speaker: Prof. Sangsu Kim (Korean Military Academy) This workshop will feature a keynote speech by Prof. Sangsu Kim from Korean Military Academy, followed by presentations from three graduate students. Detailed Schedule and Abstracts: Opening: 12:55 PM ~ 13:00 PM Presentation 1: Min Cheol Seo (Ph.D. Student in Philosophy, Sungkyunkwan University) / 13:00-13:50 (30-minute presentation, 20-minute Q&A) Title: Multi-Agent Simulative Belief Ascription Abstract: This paper presents the outline of the model of Multi-Agent Simulative Belief Ascription, (MASBA), a novel approach to model how an agent represents other agent’s belief state, incorporating belief revision to effectively address the dynamic nature of belief changes in multiagent contexts. In MASBA, each agent’s belief is represented as a distinct compartment, allowing for the sharing of beliefs through communication while maintaining their individual integrity. A key feature of MASBA is its handling of simulative beliefs, being casually characterised as ‘what would have believed if I were the case’, which may not always compatible with the ascribee’s actual belief state. When constructing the simulative belief state, the revision occurs with respect to the ascriber’s belief state but with a priority on the ascribee’s plausibility ordering. This structure enables MASBA to provide an intuitive perspective on cognitive faculty of ‘mindreading’, representing it as a mental simulation that merges our beliefs with the shared beliefs of others, thereby enriching our understanding of multi-agent belief dynamics and cognitive processes. Presentation 2: Hwiwon Daniel Lee (Master's Student in Philosophy, Sungkyunkwan University) / 13:50-14:40 (30-minute presentation, 20-minute Q&A) Title: 사회적 대상으로서의 국가에 관한 추상적 인공물주의 Abstract: 사회적 대상으로서의 국가의 본성과 그 존재론적 지위를 설명하는 기존의 유력한 입장으로는 환원적 물질주의, 규범적 질료형상론, 그리고 인공물주의가 있다. 환원적 물질주의는 국가를 영토나 국민 등 특정한 물리적 요소로 환원한다. 규범적 질료형상론은 국가를 질료인 물리적 요소와 형상인 규범적 요소의 복합체로 간주한다. 인공물주의는 국가를 적절한 체현을 통해 창조된 추상적 인공물이라고 주장한다. 나는 이러한 기존의 이론들을 검토하고 비판한 뒤, 국가에 관한 인공물주의를 발전시켜 국가가 추상적 인공물로 이해된 음악 작품과 유사한 비물질적인 사회적 대상이라는 주장을 제시한다. 이에 따르면 국가는 특정한 법률 체계와 사회적 합의를 통해 창조되며, 국민들의 사회적 퍼포먼스를 통해 지속적으로 체현된다. Break: 14:40 ~ 15:00 (20 minutes) Presentation 3: Yongwoo Lee (Master's Student in Philosophy, Seoul National University) / 15:00-15:50 (30-minute presentation, 20-minute Q&A) Title: The Aligned Preference View: Revisiting the “As Judged by Themselves” Principle Abstract: Thaler and Sunstein argue that nudges should “influence choices in a way that will make choosers better off, as judged by themselves” (Thaler and Sunstein 2008, p. 5; italics in original). This is the so-called “as judged by themselves” principle, which has significantly influenced the ethics of nudging. In this paper, I argue that aligning a nudge solely with either first-order or second-order preferences is not sufficient to meet the principle. The sufficient condition for satisfying the principle is aligning it with both preferences, a perspective I refer to as the “aligned preference” view. I then demonstrate that this alternative account offers a better guideline than the “informed preference” view, which has been developed by Thaler and Sunstein. Keynote Speech: Prof. Sangsu Kim (Korean Military Academy) / 15:50-17:20 (60-minute presentation, 30-minute Q&A) Title: The Ontological Status of Collectives: A Dominant Sortal Approach to Collective Identity Abstract: The ontological status of collectives remains a contested issue in contemporary metaphysics, particularly in relation to their individuation, persistence conditions, and moral agency. Are collectives ontologically reducible to the sum of their individual members, or do they constitute distinct entities with their own identity criteria? This presentation proposes a novel approach to collective agency by drawing upon Michael Burke’s doctrine of dominant sortals within the material constitution debate. Just as Burke attempts to resolve the puzzle of coinciding objects by appealing to a dominant sortal that determines an object’s identity, I argue that a similar framework can be applied to collectives in order to delineate their ontological status. A central challenge in the metaphysics of collectives is whether their identity persists despite the continuous change in their individual composition. The dominant sortal framework allows us to conceptualize collective identity as governed by an overarching sortal that determines what kind of entity the collective is. For example, the persistence conditions of a military unit or a corporation may not depend solely on the continuity of its members but on its structural and functional identity as prescribed by its dominant sortal. This account helps us distinguish between mere aggregates of individuals and bona fide collective agents, clarifying when and how a collective ceases to exist or undergoes ontological transformation. Moreover, this framework raises critical implications for collective moral responsibility. If a collective is a distinct entity by virtue of its dominant sortal, then attributing responsibility to the collective cannot be merely a summation of individual culpability. Instead, the collective itself may bear moral accountability in ways that are irreducible to its members’ actions. Conversely, if a collective lacks a stable dominant sortal, its moral agency may be fundamentally indeterminate, thereby challenging legal and ethical doctrines that presuppose the moral culpability of institutions and organizations. By integrating the dominant sortal framework into the ontology of collectives, this study advances a refined understanding of collective identity, continuity, and responsibility. Closing: 17:20 ~ 17:25

Jungkyun Kim Receives the 2024 SKKU Graduate Student Thesis Award

We are pleased to announce the results of the Philosophy department in the 2024 SKKU Graduate Student Thesis Award. Jungkyun Kim (Ph.D. Candidate): Encouragement Prize (Prize Money: 2 million won) Presentation Title: Can Only the Innocent Cast the First Stone? A Pragmatic Explanation for Dismissing the Hypocrite’s Blame Congratulations on the well-deserved award!