My research up until now has been focused on answering the general question of what makes us warranted in our ordinary, common beliefs about the world. In virtue of what is it rational or appropriate for you to believe, say, that there is a computer screen in front of you or that traffic will be slow during rush hour today? In connection with this topic, my philosophical areas of interest lie primarily in epistemology and philosophy of mind. In epistemology, I have interests in the problem of skepticism and also the debate over whether warrant is internal or external to the believer’s mind. Most of my work in the philosophy of mind has centered on the nature of perceptual experience. Specifically, I am investigating whether certain views about the mind, such as the views that perceptual states are externally individuated and that perception has nonconceptual content, have any bearing on the epistemology of perceptual belief. I have a suspicion that they do, and I hope to argue for this in the near future. I also have other minor interests in issues relating to consciousness and the possibility of voluntary control with respect to our beliefs.
Recent Publications
- “Entitlement, Justification and the Bootstrapping Problem,” (2012) Acta Analytica, 27: 257-272.
- “Reliabilism and Brains in Vats,” (2011) Acta Analytica, 26: 257-272
- “Epistemic Entitlement,” (2011) Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, www.iep.utm.edu/ep-en/
- “Terms of Envattment,” (2010) (co-authored with Anthony Brueckner) in A. Brueckner (ed.) Essays on Skepticism, New York: Oxford University Press
Degrees
Ph.D, University of California, Santa Barbara; M.A., University of California, Santa Barbara; B.A., University of Wisconsin, Madison
Classes Taught
- Practicial Logic
- Epistemology
- Metaphysics
- John Locke
- Philosophy of Mind
Areas of Expertise
Philosophy of Mind, Epistemology
Contact Information
- Office Location
- 413 Bobet Hall
- Mailing Address
- Loyola University New Orleans
Department of Philosophy
6363 St. Charles Ave.
Campus Box 107
New Orleans, LA 70118 - Direct Phone
- (504) 865-3052
- Fax Number
- (504) 865-3948
- Email Address
- jlaltsch@loyno.edu
- Personal Website
- philpapers.org/s/Jon%20Altschul