The New Ontology of the Mental Causation Debate: exploring the consequences of new advances in ontology for the issue of mental causation.

14th–16th September 2009, Durham University, UK.

Sponsored by: AHRC, The Mind Association, Analysis, and Durham University

AIMS: It has been suggested that the mental causation debate is ‘up against a dead end’ (Kim 1993), and even that a solution to the problem is forever beyond our reach (McGinn 1994). The purpose of this conference is to present and discuss the latest research output of scholars attempting to re-assess the problem of mental causation in light of recent advances in metaphysics. A particular focus is on new accounts of powers, properties and causation, and of categories and levels of being. More information about the conference and how to register is available at www.dur.ac.uk/philosophy/ontologyofmentalcausation

Speakers

Prof. Tim Crane – Mental Substances and their Powers
Prof. John Heil – Causation and Mental Properties
Prof. Barry Loewer – Enough of Mental Causation? Already?
Prof. Paul Noordhof – Mental Causation: Ontology and Patterns of Variation
Prof. Tim O’Connor – Nonreductive Physicalism or Emergent Dualism? The Argument from Mental Causation
Prof. David Papineau – Variable Realization and Causal Laws
Prof. David Robb, Tropes – Types, and Mental Causation
Prof. Sydney Shoemaker – Physical Realization without Preemption
Prof. Peter Simons – Causation by Continuants: Loyal Opposition

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Registration

Registration fee: £50 (£25 for students). Fee includes teas/coffees throughout the conference, wine reception on the evening of the 14th (courtesy of Waterstone’s Booksellers) and a lunch buffet on the 15th.

B&B accomodation is available in St. Chad’s College for £28 per person per night. The College is a stone’s throw from the conference venue and very pleasantly located in Old Durham close to the Cathedral and Castle (World Heritage Site).

Alternative but more expensive accommodation can be found at: http://www.durhamtourism.co.uk/accomm.html

Conference dinner on the evening of the 15th costs £34.50 (including two glasses of wine)

Total cost for conference is approximately £156 (Students £130) when all meals and conference dinner are included.

To register please go to www.dur.ac.uk/philosophy/ontologyofmentalcausation/conference/registration
Download a registration form (bottom of web page) and return it to St. Chad’s College with payment either by mail (with cheque or card details) or fax (with card details).

If you have any queries about registration, please contact Dr. Valdi Ingthorsson at r.d.ingthorsson@durham.ac.uk

Thanks to the ANALYSIS TRUST, 6 student bursaries are available (£60 each). Bursaries will be awarded on a mixture of first come first served and relevance of research basis. Contact Dr. Ingthorsson to apply: r.d.ingthorsson@durham.ac.uk

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Programme

Monday 14th September

• 14:30-16:00   Prof. John Heil, Causation and Mental Properties
• 16:30-18:00   Prof. David Robb, Tropes, Types, and Mental Causation
• Wine reception at Waterstone’s

Tuesday 15th September

• 09:00-10:30   Prof. Tim Crane, Mental Substances and their Powers
• 11:00-12:30   Prof. Peter Simons, Causation by Continuants: Loyal Opposition
• Lunch Buffet
• 13:30-15:00   Prof. David Papineau, Variable Realization and Causal Laws
• 15:30-17:00   Prof. Sydney Shoemaker, Physical Realization without Preemption
• Conference Dinner

Wednesday 16th September

• 09:00-10:30   Prof. Paul Noordhof, Mental Causation: Ontology and Patterns of Variation
• 11:00-12:30   Prof. Tim O’Connor, Nonreductive Physicalism or Emergent Dualism? The Argument from ?Mental Causation
• 13:30-15:00    Prof. Barry Loewer, Enough of Mental Causation? Already?

Extra bonus for those who can stay behind
15:30-17:00 Post-Conference workshop – The Mental Causation Debate Today