Mark Moyer

12 Loubier Dr.
Essex Junction, VT  05452

Home: (802) 316-4775
Department: (802) 656-3140
Mark.Moyer@uvm.edu
http://www.zoo.uvm.edu/~mmmoyer

Areas of Specialization:  Metaphysics and Philosophy of Language

Areas of Competence:  Philosophy of Mind and Epistemology

Employment

Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Vermont, August 2001 – May 2002.

Assistant Professor, University of Vermont, August 2002 – present.

Education

Rutgers University, 1995-2002:
            Ph.D. in Philosophy

Florida State University, 1991-1994:
            B.A. in Philosophy, summa cum laude
            B.A. in Religion, summa cum laude

University of California, Berkeley, 1976-1981:
            B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Dissertation

A Semantic Approach to Material Constitution
Supervised by Tim Maudlin (director), Brian McLaughlin, Ernest Sosa, and Kit Fine.

Can multiple objects coincide?  Do objects span times?  Do objects span worlds?  Can persons survive fission?  This dissertation argues that these metaphysical puzzles are the product of semantic confusions.  Once we understand the semantics of the philosopher’s technical claims, the purported paradoxes dissolve of their own.

Previous Experience

Before turning to philosophy, I worked as a computer engineer in Silicon Valley, designing peripheral controllers and graphics accelerators for high-end work stations.  For example, while working for Sun Microsystems, Inc. I wrote the micro-code for a floating-point accelerator, designed a gate array (a computer chip) for triangle acceleration, and led a small team in the design of a circuit board for Sun's highest performance graphics accelerator.

Awards and Honors

American Philosophical Association
Central Division graduate student travel stipend, May 2001

The Creighton Club: New York State Philosophical Association
The Graduate Student Presentation Award, 2000

Rutgers University
Excellence Fellowship, 1995-1999

Rutgers University
Preliminary Examination (‘Area Test’): Passed with Distinction, 1998

Publications

“Does Four-Dimensionalism Explain Coincidence?”
Australasian Journal of Philosophy, forthcoming 2009

“A Survival Guide to Fission”
Philosophical Studies, December 2008 (vol. 141, no. 3, pp. 299-322).

“Why We Shouldn't Swallow Worm Slices: A Case Study in Semantic Accommodation”
Noûs, March 2008 (vol. 42, no. 1, pp. 109-138).

“Weak and Global Supervenience Are Strong”
Philosophical Studies, March 2008 (vol. 138, no. 1, pp. 125-150).

“Statues and Lumps: A Strange Coincidence?”
Synthese, January 2006 (vol. 148, issue 2, pp. 401-423).

Work in Progress

“Grounding Modality,” being revised.

“Defending Reliabilism,” in preparation.

Presentations

“Does Four-Dimensionalism Explain Coincidence?”
American Philosophical Association, Eastern Division, December 2008.

Comments on "Abstract + Concrete = Paradox" by Walter Sinnott-Armstrong
UVM-Dartmouth Philosophy Symposium, June 2007

Comments on “Four-Dimensionalism and the Puzzles of Material Coincidence” by Matthew McGrath
University of Missouri Kline Workshop, March 2005: The Metaphysics of Identity

Comments on “Identity through Change and Substitutivity Salva Veritate” by Reinaldo Elugardo & Robert J. Stainton
8th Annual Inland Northwest Philosophy Conference: Time and Identity, April 2005

“Statues and Lumps: An Explanation of a Sort”
University of Florida, November 2002.

Comments on “The Nature of Constitution” by Ryan Wasserman
Bellingham Summer Philosophy Conference, August 2002.

“The Paradox of Fission”
Vermont-Dartmouth Philosophy Conference, July 2002

“The Paradox of Fission”
University of Ottawa, March 2002

Comments on “What Moral Realism Can Learn from the Philosophy of Time” by Heather Dyke
Bellingham Summer Philosophy Conference, August 2001.

“Should We Swallow Worms or Worm Slices?”
American Philosophical Association, Central Division, May 2001.

“Statues and Lumps: A Strange Coincidence?”
American Philosophical Association, Pacific Division, March 2001.

“The Paradox of Fission”
Rutgers Graduate Philosophical Association, November 2000.

“Statues and Lumps: A Strange Coincidence?”
New Jersey Regional Philosophical Conference, November 2000.

Comments on “Peter van Inwagen on Material Beings” by Matti Eklund
New Jersey Regional Philosophical Conference, November 2000.

"Should We Swallow Worms or Worm Slices?"
The Creighton Club: New York State Philosophical Association, November 2000.

"Strengths and Weaknesses of Weak and Strong Supervenience"
American Philosophical Association, Central Division, April 2000.

"Tense, Identity, and Temporal Parts: A Semantic Solution to Metaphysical Puzzles"
Princeton-Rutgers Graduate Philosophy Conference, April 2000.

"A Semantic Cure for Identity Problems"
Eastern Pennsylvania Philosophy Conference, April 2000.

Comments on "The Body Problem" by Barbara Montero
Rutgers Graduate Philosophy Conference, April 1998.

Comments on "Naturalizing Semantics: A Connectionist Vehicle for Content" by Evan Tiffany
Rutgers Graduate Philosophy Conference, April 1997.

Courses Taught

Introduction to Philosophy:
Fall, 1999; Spring, 2000; Fall, 2000; and Fall, 2001 to present

Logic, Reason, and Persuasion:
Fall, 1998; Spring, 1999

Advanced Seminar on the Metaphysics of Time and Material Objects:
Fall, 2001; Spring, 2003; Spring, 2004; Fall, 2004 to present

Philosophy of Mind:
Fall, 2002; Fall, 2003; Spring 2006 to present

Philosophy of Language:
Spring, 2002