Some of John DePoe's Academic Papers

Epistemology

• Williamson on the Evidence for Skepticism (163k) - This paper contests the evidential requirements with which Williamson saddles the skeptic. By appealing to the phenomenal concept of evidence, I challenge the way Williamson goes about rejecting external world skepticism. (This is forthcoming in Southwest Philosophical Studies.)

• In Defense of the "Fatal Dilemma" Against Moderate Foundationalism (141k) - Timothy McGrew has argued that moderate foundationalism must face a dilemma that forces moderate foundationalists to another epistemic grounding. Daniel Howard-Snyder and Christian Lee challenge McGrew's dilemma arguing that probabilistic foundations are acceptable. I claim that their arguments beg the question by assuming external justification.

• In Defense of Classical Foundationalism: A Critical Evaluation of Plantinga’s Argument that Classical Foundationalism is Self-Refuting (147k) - This paper provides a critical evaluation of Plantinga's contention that Classical Foundationalism is self-refuting. A careful analysis of Plantinga's argument reveals that Classical Foundationalism is not self-refuting, and there is little reason given for thinking that Classical Foundationalism is false. (This is a preprint of a paper published in The South African Journal of Philosophy.)

Metaphysics

• An Argument Why the Mind is Not a Physical Mechanism (190k) - Physicalism seems committed to the following principles: (A) the causal closure of the physical, (B) all causes are physical causes, and (C) all physical causes are mechanistic, non-purposive causes. I follow Norman Malcolm's argument from his article "The Conceivability of Mechanism" to show that this results in physicalism being a self-referentially inconsistent view.
• A Defense of Dualism (131k) - This paper sketches out a basic argument for substance mind-body dualism. This was written for a class as a midterm (not a research paper), so it may not be as rigorous as some people would hope.

Philosophy of Religion

• How to Confirm a Miracle: A Bayesian Approach (365k) - Is it possible to obtain sufficient evidence to confirm a miracle has occurred? This paper defends a methodology for providing a positive answer to this question. First, I sketch a Bayesian model for confirming a miracle, and then I respond to objections to this approach.

• Human Freedom and Divine Foreknowledge: An Analysis of the Problem and Selected Solutions (850k) - This is my thesis from my master's degree in religion. The introduction lays out the necessary groundwork and definitions to tackle this difficult issue. Chapter 1, "A Plethora of Solutions," critically evaluates the merits of atheism, divine timelessness, and Augustinianism to solve the given problem. Chapter 2 focuses entirely on a description and critique of open theism. In chapter 3 I explain and defend Molinism against popular critiques (including the grounding objection). I wrote this over two years ago. I am still a Molinist, but I've learned much about philosophy over these years and would change much of my thesis to strengthen and clarify its points.

• Evidentialism, Reformed Epistemology, and the Holy Spirit (197k) - Often Reformed epistemologists criticize evidentialism for making belief in God inaccessible. This paper shows a plausible way for evidentialists to overcome this criticism by examining a scriptural account of the Holy Spirit. In addition to vindicating evidentialism from this criticism, this examination shows that Reformed Epistemology does not follow the Bible's explication of the epistemic roles of the Holy Spirit.
• A Bayesian Analysis of the Cumulative Effects of Independent Eyewitness Testimony for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (406k) - I explore the amazing evidential value of independent eyewitness testimony on the probability of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The paper has problems, but it is worth exploring for creative purposes. I hope to provide an account along the same lines of this paper, but hopefully with the kinks worked out.
• Theism, Atheism, and the Metaphysics of Free Will (181k) - This paper assesses the claims made by prominent atheists Antony Flew and Jean-Paul Sartre that theists cannot adequately account for free will. Moreover, I also explore J. P. Moreland's claim that only theism can account for genuine free will. My final conclusion states that neither position, aside from prior commitments on the existence of God, proffers a superior explanation for free will. (This is a pre-print of a forthcoming paper in Southwest Philosophical Studies.)

• Why Christians Should not be Compatibilists: A Response to Baker (125k) - Paper to be presented at the 2004 ETS/EPS national conference. I contest an argument put forward by Lynne Rudder Baker in a recent article from Faith and Philosophy. I argue that compatibilism is not consistent with mainstream Christian doctrine. Then, I go on the offensive and argue that there are good reasons for all Christians to embrace libertarian freedom.

• A Short Theodicy (162k) - In one of my classes, I was asked to write a theodicy in eight pages. I managed to stay within the page limit, and I think this is a concise way to sum up how I deal with the problem of evil. Of course, such a short paper should only be considered a basic sketch. The endnotes are worth reading since they provide substantial information and citations that had to be cut to make the paper fit my professor's guidelines.