Ernest Sosa
Encyclopedia
Ernest Sosa is an American philosopher primarily interested in epistemology. He is currently Board of Governors Professor
of Philosophy
at Rutgers University
. He has been at Rutgers full-time since January, 2007; previously, he had been at Brown University
since 1964. While full-time at Brown, he was also a distinguished visiting professor at Rutgers every spring from 1998-2006.
, modern philosophy
and philosophy of mind
. In his books Knowledge in Perspective (1991) and A Virtue Epistemology (2007), Sosa defends a form of virtue epistemology
called "virtue perspectivism", which distinguishes animal knowledge from reflective knowledge. Born in Cárdenas, Cuba on June 17, 1940, Sosa earned his BA and MA from the University of Miami
and his PhD from the University of Pittsburgh
in 1964 where his dissertation was supervised by Nicholas Rescher
.
Sosa is a past president of the American Philosophical Association
and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.
He edits the philosophical journals Noûs
and Philosophy and Phenomenological Research
. In 2005, he delivered the John Locke Lectures
at Oxford., which formed the basis of his 2007 book.
He was also the 2010 recipient of the Nicholas Rescher
Prize for contributions to systematic philosophy, conferred by the University of Pittsburgh
biennially.
His son, David Sosa
, is associate professor of Philosophy at the University of Texas, Austin.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
. He has been at Rutgers full-time since January, 2007; previously, he had been at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
since 1964. While full-time at Brown, he was also a distinguished visiting professor at Rutgers every spring from 1998-2006.
Biography
He is one of the leading contemporary epistemologists, and has also written on metaphysicsMetaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
, modern philosophy
Modern philosophy
Modern philosophy is a type of philosophy that originated in Western Europe in the 17th century, and is now common worldwide. It is not a specific doctrine or school , although there are certain assumptions common to much of it, which helps to distinguish it from earlier philosophy.The 17th and...
and philosophy of mind
Philosophy of mind
Philosophy of mind is a branch of philosophy that studies the nature of the mind, mental events, mental functions, mental properties, consciousness and their relationship to the physical body, particularly the brain. The mind-body problem, i.e...
. In his books Knowledge in Perspective (1991) and A Virtue Epistemology (2007), Sosa defends a form of virtue epistemology
Virtue epistemology
Virtue epistemology is a contemporary philosophical approach to epistemology that stresses the importance of intellectual virtues. It combines the central tenets of virtue theory , with classical epistemological approaches.Intellectual virtue has been a subject of philosophy since the works of...
called "virtue perspectivism", which distinguishes animal knowledge from reflective knowledge. Born in Cárdenas, Cuba on June 17, 1940, Sosa earned his BA and MA from the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
and his PhD from the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
in 1964 where his dissertation was supervised by Nicholas Rescher
Nicholas Rescher
Nicholas Rescher is an American philosopher at the University of Pittsburgh. In a productive research career extending over six decades, Rescher has established himself as a systematic philosopher of the old style and author of a system of pragmatic idealism which weaves together threads of...
.
Sosa is a past president of the American Philosophical Association
American Philosophical Association
The American Philosophical Association is the main professional organization for philosophers in the United States. Founded in 1900, its mission is to promote the exchange of ideas among philosophers, to encourage creative and scholarly activity in philosophy, to facilitate the professional work...
and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.
He edits the philosophical journals Noûs
Noûs
Noûs is a philosophy journal published four times per year by Blackwell Publishing. It was founded by Hector-Neri Castañeda and is currently edited by Ernest Sosa...
and Philosophy and Phenomenological Research
Philosophy and Phenomenological Research
Philosophy and Phenomenological Research is a bimonthly philosophy journal founded in 1940. Until 1980, it was edited by Marvin Farber, then by Roderick Chisholm and since 1986 by Ernest Sosa...
. In 2005, he delivered the John Locke Lectures
John Locke lectures
The John Locke Lectures are a series of annual lectures in philosophy given at the University of Oxford. They are one of the world's most prestigious academic lecture series, comparable to the Gifford Lectures given in Scottish universities...
at Oxford., which formed the basis of his 2007 book.
He was also the 2010 recipient of the Nicholas Rescher
Nicholas Rescher
Nicholas Rescher is an American philosopher at the University of Pittsburgh. In a productive research career extending over six decades, Rescher has established himself as a systematic philosopher of the old style and author of a system of pragmatic idealism which weaves together threads of...
Prize for contributions to systematic philosophy, conferred by the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
biennially.
His son, David Sosa
David Sosa
David Sosa is an American philosopher. He received his undergraduate degree from Brown University and a doctorate in philosophy from Princeton University. His PhD dissertation, completed in 1996 under the supervision of Mark Johnston, was titled "Representing Thoughts and Language". Before moving...
, is associate professor of Philosophy at the University of Texas, Austin.