Claire Field is a thinker working in epistemology and ethics, and a postdoctoral analysis fellow on the AHRC-funded venture Varieties of Risk. At present, her analysis pursuits embody rationality, incoherence, recklessness, higher-order uncertainty, logical normativity, and the philosophy of neurodiversity.
What excites you about philosophy?
I’d prefer to say one thing noble about how I discover philosophy thrilling as a result of I like knowledge or wish to use the ability of logic to make the world a greater place. Whereas these items are good, if I’m trustworthy, what I actually love about philosophy is fixing puzzles and arguing in opposition to individuals who I believe are flawed.
I first received into philosophy in school by way of a non secular research class. Again then, I didn’t know what philosophy was, however in non secular research we spent numerous time studying about views that appeared completely loopy to me—like that abortion was flawed, or that God existed essentially. It made me offended that individuals thought these loopy issues, and I found that I actually favored arguing in opposition to them and studying tips on how to argue in opposition to them extra successfully. It was enjoyable, and I felt like I used to be buying a brand new energy.
This was so thrilling that I began an undergraduate diploma in theology. I rapidly realized that I didn’t care very a lot about how or whether or not Jesus might grow to be man or have relationships with Christians right this moment. Fortunately, inside a yr I stumbled upon philosophy. I ended up attending some lectures on mereology ,and located the puzzles extra thrilling than something I had studied earlier than. I by no means seemed again.
What are you engaged on proper now?
Too many issues! Proper now, the principle factor I’m engaged on is a paper concerning the epistemic worth of incoherence. It’s often regarded as paradigmatically irrational, and to be prevented if doable. I’m exploring among the constructive issues about it. I believe it has some epistemic advantages—significantly for non-ideal beings in a non-ideal world. For instance, for those who comply with too many bizarre hyperlinks on Fb, you would possibly find yourself believing some very unusual issues. For those who attempt to keep coherence, that may solely make issues worse. Nevertheless, noticing incoherence between what you imagine and what you suppose you must imagine can assist sign a necessity for additional, and maybe completely different, inquiry.
What matter do you suppose is beneath explored in philosophy?
Neurodiversity—the concept there are completely different, non-defective methods of fascinated about the world. Many of those other ways of considering have been medicalized and handled as problems, however the neurodiversity motion advocates for accepting them and treating them as we’d different points of human range, equivalent to race, gender, or sexuality. Though it’s acquired fairly a little bit of consideration from psychologists, I believe there are a variety of avenues for philosophers to discover, and I’m actually excited to see how this space develops within the close to future. I just lately wrote some papers on the implications of this for ethical theories of praiseworthiness and blameworthiness (see here and here), and now I’m engaged on a brand new venture exploring among the implications of neurodiversity for theories of rationality. I believe neurodiversity nearly actually has different attention-grabbing implications for any philosophical theories that depend on basic claims about human cognition.
What are your objectives and aspirations outdoors work?
I’d prefer to be a greater rock climber. For me proper now, that principally means conquering my worry of falling. I just lately injured my knee whereas bouldering, and I’ve solely just lately began climbing once more. I’ve discovered that my muscle energy hasn’t taken too lengthy to return again, however it has been a lot tougher to regain the psychological energy wanted to beat worry. I’m discovering that, even after I know that it’s secure to fall, I nonetheless discover it actually arduous to push myself to climb tough routes on lead. I discover it actually tough to clarify what precisely I’m afraid of. I do know I’m secure, however in some way the concept of falling is simply actually scary. I’d actually prefer to recover from this worry in order that I can climb tougher routes.
What’s your favourite sound on the planet?
Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells performed on LP, throughout. Additionally, the squeaky sound that coots make when excited.
What do you love to do outdoors work?
I like being outdoors. One factor I like about residing in Scotland is how shut the outside is. I grew up within the Midlands, the place I used to be at all times very removed from the mountains and the ocean, and I like now having the ability to get to each so simply. One in all my favourite issues to do is bounce within the North Sea after which immediately remorse it.
What are you studying proper now? Would you suggest it?
I’m studying a ebook referred to as Oblomov by Ivan Goncharov. Oblomov by no means does something, as a result of he has to suppose all the things by way of earlier than he begins. It’s worryingly relatable, and really humorous. An excellent good friend who is aware of me too properly gave it to me for my birthday over a yr in the past, and I’ve solely simply gotten round to studying it. I’d suggest it to anybody who struggles with procrastination.
I’m additionally studying The Hidden Lifetime of Bushes by Peter Wohlleben. It accommodates a variety of fascinating information about how timber talk (greater than we thought), and it’s making me very uncomfortable. I’m used to considering of consuming vegetation as a totally morally secure choice, however now I’m a lot much less certain about that!
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