Alexander Jackson


Department of Philosophy
Rutgers University
1 Seminary Place
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
115 Diamond Street Apt 2A
Brooklyn, NY 11222

jackson@philosophy.rutgers.edu
http://fas-philosophy.rutgers.edu/jackson

Nationality:  Dual British and French.

Education
    Ph.D., Philosophy, Rutgers University, Spring 2010 (expected).
    B.A.(Hons), Mathematics and Philosophy, Balliol College, Oxford, 2002.

Areas of Specialization
     Epistemology, Metaphysics.

Areas of Competence
     Philosophy of Mind, Logic.

Publications
    “Appearances, Rationality, and Justified Belief,” forthcoming in Philosophy and Phenomenological Research.
    “The Inflexibility of Relative Truth,” forthcoming in Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society.

Work in Progress
    “Understanding Vagueness.”
    “A Case for Anti-Realism About Knowledge.” Under review.
    “Predicate Logic and the Metaphysics of Time.”
    “Justified Belief and Knowledge Norms.”
    “Just Enough Easy Knowledge.”

Dissertation
    The Varieties of Skepticism.
    Committee: Ernest Sosa (supervisor), Peter Klein, John Hawthorne.

My dissertation defends knowledge against skepticism. Chapters 1-3 develop a foundationalist theory of epistemic justification, answering two kinds of skeptical argument, and resolving the clash between internalist and externalist intuitions in favour of the latter. Chapter 4 argues that we need a different kind of response to the lottery and preface puzzles, namely a relativist anti-realism about knowledge.
Awards
    University Bevier Dissertation Fellowship, 2008-9. Twelve awards per year for the whole university.
    Sellon Dissertation Fellowship, 2007-8. One award per year, made by the philosophy department for the most promising sixth year graduate student.

Presentations
    “The Inflexibility of Relative Truth.” Selected for the Graduate Session, at the Joint Sessions of the Aristotelian Society and the Mind Association, 10th July 2009.

Teaching Experience
    “Introduction to Philosophy.” Twice Instructor with sole responsibility.
    “Current Moral and Social Issues.” Teaching Assistant twice.

Editorial Experience
    Assistant Editor at Nous and Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, 2009-10.

References
    Ernest Sosa, Rutgers.         Email: ernest.sosa@gmail.com
    Peter Klein, Rutgers.          Email: pdklein@rci.rutgers.edu
    John Hawthorne, Oxford.   Email: john.hawthorne@magd.ox.ac.uk
    Theodore Sider, NYU.       Email: ted.sider@nyu.edu
    Kit Fine, NYU.                  Email: kit.fine@nyu.edu
    Dean Zimmerman, Rutgers. (Teaching ref.)     Email: dwzimmer@rci.rutgers.edu