Talk (Work in Progress): Javier Anta (MCMP)

Title:

The normative dimension of conceptual analysis. The case of information concepts in the philosophy of physics

Abstract:

In this talk, I argue, contrary to the general view on conceptual analysis, that this method has a rich normative dimension that is made explicit in the linguistic use of deontic and evaluative vocabulary. Taking the manifold of analyses of information concepts in the philosophy of physics literature in 1952-2020 as a historical case study, I argue that conceptual analysis has both a descriptive and a prescriptive function, where the latter is aimed at prescribing to users how they should use or even understand a concept correctly. I will then propose to interpret the prescriptive assessments of ‘misuses’ and ‘misunderstandings’ made by conceptual analysts in terms of the analysts implicitly attributing uses and user’s belief of unsuccessfully following the set of theoretical and epistemic norms governing the (presumably) correct manner of using and understanding a particular concept. Finally, I will claim to deepen the normative dimension of conceptual analysis as a necessary step to understanding the epistemic fruitfulness of this philosophical methodology.