University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point | Joshua.Horn@uwsp.edu
I specialize in 17th and 18th century philosophy and particularly in the thought of Spinoza and Leibniz. My dissertation, written under the direction of Brandon Look at the University of Kentucky, focused on Leibniz’s theory of compossibility, the necessary criterion for what makes a world possible. I presented the charge of necessitarianism present in Spinoza’s metaphysical picture and showed why Leibniz took such pains to maintain a cogent theory of contingency, and therefore avoid Spinoza’s radical conclusion. I argued that Leibniz’s theory of compossibility should be interpreted as a relation that holds between essences, some of which exist in the actual world and some of which exist in the divine intellect. These essences in turn should be understood as maximally consistent sets of propositions.
More recently, my research has focused on the constellation of issues surrounding Leibniz's theory of natural law on the one hand, and the way his metaphysical and epistemological views inform issues in philosophy of religion.
More recently, my research has focused on the constellation of issues surrounding Leibniz's theory of natural law on the one hand, and the way his metaphysical and epistemological views inform issues in philosophy of religion.
In addition to my primary area of specialization in 17th and 18th century philosophy, I also maintain active research interests in working to make philosophy accessible to a broad group of readers and interlocutors.
To this end, I sometimes present and publish essays concerning popular culture. Research in this area has directly led to several publications. A few of these are listed below with links to the volumes. "Identity Across Space and Time: BioShock Infinite and Theories of Transworld Individuality", and “Dreams and Possible Worlds: Inception and the Metaphysics of Modality” with Wiley-Blackwell, and “The Triforce and the Doctrine of the Mean” with Open Court. Most recently, I have published a piece on The Last of Us and currently have a paper in progress related to prophecy and fate in the God of War series.
I am also editing a forthcoming volume on The Last of Us with Wiley Blackwell. Here is a link to the Call for Abstracts.
To this end, I sometimes present and publish essays concerning popular culture. Research in this area has directly led to several publications. A few of these are listed below with links to the volumes. "Identity Across Space and Time: BioShock Infinite and Theories of Transworld Individuality", and “Dreams and Possible Worlds: Inception and the Metaphysics of Modality” with Wiley-Blackwell, and “The Triforce and the Doctrine of the Mean” with Open Court. Most recently, I have published a piece on The Last of Us and currently have a paper in progress related to prophecy and fate in the God of War series.
I am also editing a forthcoming volume on The Last of Us with Wiley Blackwell. Here is a link to the Call for Abstracts.
