Simon J Evnine
Biographic Data
| ID | 1295433 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Simon J Evnine |
| GIVEN NAMES | Simon J |
| FAMILY NAME | Evnine |
| SIGNATURE | EVNINE S J |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Miami |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-5592-3142 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 13 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 35 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 13 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1993 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
The curated artifact
I defend the view that natural languages are artifacts, made and kept in existence by large groups of people through a process of what I call “curatorial creation.” Drawing on a theory of artifacts as the impositions of mind onto matter, a theory I have developed elsewhere, and making use of the examples of explicitly artifactual languages such as Esperanto and Volapük, I attempt to draw out, and render plausible, the idea that even natural langu…
Are Titles of Artworks Proper Names of the Artworks They Entitle
I argue against the view that titles of artworks are proper names of those works and that all descriptive content in them is relevant only to interpreting the works. In its place, I suggest that the ties between titles and works are much more complex than is allowed by thinking of them solely as names. Their descriptive content is crucial to understanding how they entitle and that it is aesthetically important, not in an interpretive way, but in …
The Anonymity of a Murmur
Memes, of the kind found often (though not exclusively) on the internet, are an increasingly significant medium of expressive activity. I develop a theory of their ontological nature and, in parallel, an analysis of the concept meme. On my view, memes are abstract artifacts made out of norms for production of instances. The norms say things like ‘use a certain image; add text of a certain kind; the text should be delivered in two chunks, one at t…
Making Objects and Events
Simon J. Evnine explores the view that some objects have matter from which they are distinct but that this distinctness is not due to the existence of anything like a form. He argues that objects must be understood in relation to how they come to exist and what their functions are and applies his account to artifacts, organisms and actions.
“But Is It Science Fiction?”: Science Fiction and a Theory of Genre
If science fiction is a genre, then attempts to think about the nature of science fiction will be affected by one’s understanding of what genres are. I shall examine two approaches to genre, one (genres as regions of conceptual space) dominant but inadequate, the other (genres as historical particulars) better, but only occasionally making itself seen. I shall then discuss several important, interrelated issues, focusing particularly on science f…
Essentially Contested Concepts and Semantic Externalism
In 1956, W.B. Gallie introduced his idea of essentially contested concepts. In my paper, I offer a novel interpretation of his theory and argue that his theory, thus interpreted, is correct. The key to my interpretation lies in a condition Gallie places on essentially contested concepts that other interpreters downplay or dismiss: that the use of an essentially contested concept must be derived "from an original exemplar whose authority is acknow…
Ready-Mades
I explore the interrelations between the ontological and aesthetic issues raised by ready-mades such as Duchamp's Fountain. I outline a hylomorphic metaphysics which has two central features. First, hylomorphically complex objects have matter to which they are not identical. Secondly, when such objects are artefacts (including artworks), it is essential to them that they are the products of creative work on their matter. Against this background, …
Constitution and Composition
Constitution is the relation between something and what it is made of. Composition is the relation between something and its parts. I examine three different approaches to the relation between constitution and composition. One approach, associated with neo-Aristotelians like Mark Johnston and Kathrin Koslicki, identifies constitution with composition. A second, popular with those sympathetic to classical mereology such as Judith Thomson, defines …
Constitution and Qua Objects in the Ontology of Music
Musical Platonists identify musical works with abstract sound structures but this implies that they are not created but only discovered. Jerrold Levinson adapts Platonism to allow for creation by identifying musical works with indicated sound structures. In this paper I explore the similarities between Levinson's view and Kit Fine's theory of qua objects. Fine offers the theory of qua objects as an account of constitution, as it obtains, for exam…
Modal Epistemology
I survey a number of views about how we can obtain knowledge of modal propositions, propositions about necessity and possibility. One major approach is that whether a proposition or state of affairs is conceivable tells us something about whether it is possible. I examine two quite different positions that fall under this rubric, those of Yablo and Chalmers. One problem for this approach is the existence of necessarya posterioritruths and I deal …
Believing Conjunctions
Donald Davidson
Journal Article Book Reviews Get access Donald Davidson. By Simon Evnine. (Oxford: Polity Press, 1991. Pp. ix+ 198. Price £29.50 h/b, £9.95 p/b.) H. G. Callaway H. G. Callaway Universitat Erlangen Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar The Philosophical Quarterly, Volume 43, Issue 173, October 1993, Pages 555–560, https://doi.org/10.2307/2220008 Published: 01 October 1993
Hume, Conjectural History, and the Uniformity of Human Nature
Hume, Conjectural History, and the Uniformity of Human Nature SIMON EVNINE 1~ ATTHE BEGINNINGof the nineteenth century, the Scottish philosopher Dugald Stewart described a philosophical method, called by him "conjectural history," the use of which he took to be distinctive of the philosophy of the latter half of the eighteenth century. Conjectural history is the practice, "when we are unable to ascertain how men have actually conducted themselves…
Ready-Mades
I explore the interrelations between the ontological and aesthetic issues raised by ready-mades such as Duchamp's Fountain. I outline a hylomorphic metaphysics which has two central features. First, hylomorphically complex objects have matter to which they are not identical. Secondly, when such objects are artefacts (including artworks), it is essential to them that they are the products of creative work on their matter. Against this background, …
Hume, Conjectural History, and the Uniformity of Human Nature
Hume, Conjectural History, and the Uniformity of Human Nature SIMON EVNINE 1~ ATTHE BEGINNINGof the nineteenth century, the Scottish philosopher Dugald Stewart described a philosophical method, called by him "conjectural history," the use of which he took to be distinctive of the philosophy of the latter half of the eighteenth century. Conjectural history is the practice, "when we are unable to ascertain how men have actually conducted themselves…
Constitution and Qua Objects in the Ontology of Music
Musical Platonists identify musical works with abstract sound structures but this implies that they are not created but only discovered. Jerrold Levinson adapts Platonism to allow for creation by identifying musical works with indicated sound structures. In this paper I explore the similarities between Levinson's view and Kit Fine's theory of qua objects. Fine offers the theory of qua objects as an account of constitution, as it obtains, for exam…
Believing Conjunctions
Essentially Contested Concepts and Semantic Externalism
In 1956, W.B. Gallie introduced his idea of essentially contested concepts. In my paper, I offer a novel interpretation of his theory and argue that his theory, thus interpreted, is correct. The key to my interpretation lies in a condition Gallie places on essentially contested concepts that other interpreters downplay or dismiss: that the use of an essentially contested concept must be derived "from an original exemplar whose authority is acknow…
Constitution and Composition
Constitution is the relation between something and what it is made of. Composition is the relation between something and its parts. I examine three different approaches to the relation between constitution and composition. One approach, associated with neo-Aristotelians like Mark Johnston and Kathrin Koslicki, identifies constitution with composition. A second, popular with those sympathetic to classical mereology such as Judith Thomson, defines …
Modal Epistemology
I survey a number of views about how we can obtain knowledge of modal propositions, propositions about necessity and possibility. One major approach is that whether a proposition or state of affairs is conceivable tells us something about whether it is possible. I examine two quite different positions that fall under this rubric, those of Yablo and Chalmers. One problem for this approach is the existence of necessarya posterioritruths and I deal …
The Anonymity of a Murmur
Memes, of the kind found often (though not exclusively) on the internet, are an increasingly significant medium of expressive activity. I develop a theory of their ontological nature and, in parallel, an analysis of the concept meme. On my view, memes are abstract artifacts made out of norms for production of instances. The norms say things like ‘use a certain image; add text of a certain kind; the text should be delivered in two chunks, one at t…
Donald Davidson
Journal Article Book Reviews Get access Donald Davidson. By Simon Evnine. (Oxford: Polity Press, 1991. Pp. ix+ 198. Price £29.50 h/b, £9.95 p/b.) H. G. Callaway H. G. Callaway Universitat Erlangen Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar The Philosophical Quarterly, Volume 43, Issue 173, October 1993, Pages 555–560, https://doi.org/10.2307/2220008 Published: 01 October 1993
Hume, Conjectural History, and the Uniformity of Human Nature
Hume, Conjectural History, and the Uniformity of Human Nature SIMON EVNINE 1~ ATTHE BEGINNINGof the nineteenth century, the Scottish philosopher Dugald Stewart described a philosophical method, called by him "conjectural history," the use of which he took to be distinctive of the philosophy of the latter half of the eighteenth century. Conjectural history is the practice, "when we are unable to ascertain how men have actually conducted themselves…
Believing Conjunctions
Modal Epistemology
I survey a number of views about how we can obtain knowledge of modal propositions, propositions about necessity and possibility. One major approach is that whether a proposition or state of affairs is conceivable tells us something about whether it is possible. I examine two quite different positions that fall under this rubric, those of Yablo and Chalmers. One problem for this approach is the existence of necessarya posterioritruths and I deal …
Constitution and Qua Objects in the Ontology of Music
Musical Platonists identify musical works with abstract sound structures but this implies that they are not created but only discovered. Jerrold Levinson adapts Platonism to allow for creation by identifying musical works with indicated sound structures. In this paper I explore the similarities between Levinson's view and Kit Fine's theory of qua objects. Fine offers the theory of qua objects as an account of constitution, as it obtains, for exam…
Constitution and Composition
Constitution is the relation between something and what it is made of. Composition is the relation between something and its parts. I examine three different approaches to the relation between constitution and composition. One approach, associated with neo-Aristotelians like Mark Johnston and Kathrin Koslicki, identifies constitution with composition. A second, popular with those sympathetic to classical mereology such as Judith Thomson, defines …
Ready-Mades
I explore the interrelations between the ontological and aesthetic issues raised by ready-mades such as Duchamp's Fountain. I outline a hylomorphic metaphysics which has two central features. First, hylomorphically complex objects have matter to which they are not identical. Secondly, when such objects are artefacts (including artworks), it is essential to them that they are the products of creative work on their matter. Against this background, …
Essentially Contested Concepts and Semantic Externalism
In 1956, W.B. Gallie introduced his idea of essentially contested concepts. In my paper, I offer a novel interpretation of his theory and argue that his theory, thus interpreted, is correct. The key to my interpretation lies in a condition Gallie places on essentially contested concepts that other interpreters downplay or dismiss: that the use of an essentially contested concept must be derived "from an original exemplar whose authority is acknow…
“But Is It Science Fiction?”: Science Fiction and a Theory of Genre
If science fiction is a genre, then attempts to think about the nature of science fiction will be affected by one’s understanding of what genres are. I shall examine two approaches to genre, one (genres as regions of conceptual space) dominant but inadequate, the other (genres as historical particulars) better, but only occasionally making itself seen. I shall then discuss several important, interrelated issues, focusing particularly on science f…
Making Objects and Events
Simon J. Evnine explores the view that some objects have matter from which they are distinct but that this distinctness is not due to the existence of anything like a form. He argues that objects must be understood in relation to how they come to exist and what their functions are and applies his account to artifacts, organisms and actions.
The Anonymity of a Murmur
Memes, of the kind found often (though not exclusively) on the internet, are an increasingly significant medium of expressive activity. I develop a theory of their ontological nature and, in parallel, an analysis of the concept meme. On my view, memes are abstract artifacts made out of norms for production of instances. The norms say things like ‘use a certain image; add text of a certain kind; the text should be delivered in two chunks, one at t…
The curated artifact
I defend the view that natural languages are artifacts, made and kept in existence by large groups of people through a process of what I call “curatorial creation.” Drawing on a theory of artifacts as the impositions of mind onto matter, a theory I have developed elsewhere, and making use of the examples of explicitly artifactual languages such as Esperanto and Volapük, I attempt to draw out, and render plausible, the idea that even natural langu…
Are Titles of Artworks Proper Names of the Artworks They Entitle
I argue against the view that titles of artworks are proper names of those works and that all descriptive content in them is relevant only to interpreting the works. In its place, I suggest that the ties between titles and works are much more complex than is allowed by thinking of them solely as names. Their descriptive content is crucial to understanding how they entitle and that it is aesthetically important, not in an interpretive way, but in …
Philosophy (10 works) · Epistemology (8 works) · Computer Science (6 works) · Linguistics (5 works) · Philosophy (5 works) · Art (3 works) · Artificial Intelligence (3 works) · Law (3 works) · Metaphysics (3 works) · Sociology (3 works)