Profiles
James Chase

James Chase
Assistant Dean, Student Engagement and Retention
Room L212 , Arts Building
Dr James Chase is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, Head of Discipline for Philosophy and Gender Studies, and the Assistant Dean, Student Engagement and Retention for the College of Arts, Law and Education. His research interests include epistemology, the early analytic movement and the self-understanding of analytic philosophy, and the use of philosophical logic to understand realist and antirealist positions.
Biography
James completed his doctorate at the Australian National University, and before joining the University of Tasmania he taught at Victoria University of Wellington (NZ) and sessionally for Macquarie University and the ANU.
Career summary
Qualifications
Degree | Title of Thesis | University | Country | Awarded |
---|---|---|---|---|
PhD | Naturalized Justification and the Internalist Constraint | University | Australia | 2000 |
BA (Hons) | University of Queensland | Australia | 1994 | |
LLB (Hons) | University of Queensland | Australia | 1992 |
Memberships
Professional practice
Australasian Association of Philosophy
Administrative expertise
James has significant experience leading academic units, serving as Head of Discipline and Acting Head of Humanities for some years, and leads college projects in student engagement and attainment. He has managed research projects, and organised and convened conferences.
Teaching
Epistemology, philosophy of mind, logic, philosophical logic, metaphysics, philosophy of science, philosophy of language, modal logic
Teaching expertise
James has experience teaching at all levels of the philosophy program, and in related and interdisciplinary units to students. He regularly teaches to on-campus, mixed mode and distance cohorts, engaging with students from diverse backgrounds, and developing them as critical and ethically engaged thinkers. He has designed and developed units in metaphysics, logic, early modern philosophy, philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, epistemology, philosophy of language, and co-designed interdisciplinary units focusing on aspects of ethics and critical thinking.
Teaching responsibility
- Foundations of Critical Thinking (HAA002)
- Philosophy 2: Mind & Metaphysics (HPH102)
- Philosophy of Mind
- Philosophy Capstone (HPH350)
- Philosophy of Science (HPH306)
- Contemporary Metaphysics and Epistemology (HPH310)
View more on AssocProf James Chase in WARP
Expertise
James uses the methods of analytic philosophy and philosophical logic to advance our understanding of the conceptual commitments taken on in positions in epistemology and metaphysics, particularly within the antirealist tradition, and, reflectively, to understand the nature and limits of the analytic project. He works with other philosophers to produce a better understanding of our epistemic attitudes and the concepts behind them.
Epistemology
The history of analytic philosophy
Philosophical methodology
Philosophical logic
Collaboration
James has worked with Professor Jack Reynolds (Deakin) and colleagues in New Zealand and Scotland to examine the differing methodologies of analytic and continental philosophy, with Dr David Coady (UTas) on applied epistemology, with Dr Penny Rush (Notre Dame) with the Defence Science and Technology Group to discuss applications of the philosophy of science, and with colleagues across the University of Tasmania to examine strategies for improving student engagement and attainment.
Current projects
Understanding the conceptual tie between knowledge and truth: exploring knowability.
Engaging pedagogy for online and blended learning.
Fields of Research
- Epistemology (500305)
- Metaphysics (500309)
- Logic (500308)
- Higher education (390303)
- Philosophy of mind (excl. cognition) (500315)
- Learning sciences (390409)
- History and philosophy of science (500204)
- Philosophical psychology (incl. moral psychology and philosophy of action) (500311)
- Curriculum and pedagogy theory and development (390102)
- Philosophy (500399)
- History of philosophy (500208)
- Other environmental sciences (419999)
- Conservation and biodiversity (410401)
- Health care administration (420306)
- Philosophy of cognition (500312)
- Ethical theory (500306)
- Sociology and social studies of science and technology (441007)
- Philosophy of specific cultures (incl. comparative philosophy) (500318)
- Teacher education and professional development of educators (390307)
- Phenomenology (500310)
Research Objectives
- Expanding knowledge in philosophy and religious studies (280119)
- Learner and learning (160199)
- Expanding knowledge in psychology (280121)
- Pedagogy (160302)
- Other education and training (169999)
- Library and archival services (220303)
- Defence (140199)
- Social ethics (130304)
- Expanding knowledge in language, communication and culture (280116)
- Work and labour market (230599)
- Public health (excl. specific population health) (200499)
- Teacher and instructor development (160303)
- Evaluation of health and support services (200299)
- Communication across languages and culture (130201)
- Expanding knowledge in the mathematical sciences (280118)
- Religion (130599)
Publications
James has regularly contributed to Synthese, the leading international journal for formal studies of rationality, knowledge and action, with this being an outlet for his work in formal epistemology and philosophical logic. His work in philosophical methodology has appeared in a co-authored monograph and book chapters.
Total publications
18
Highlighted publications
(4 outputs)Year | Type | Citation | Altmetrics |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | Journal Article | Chase JK, 'Voting and vagueness', Synthese: an international journal for epistemology, methodology and philosophy of science, 193 pp. 2453-2468. ISSN 0039-7857 (2016) [Refereed Article] | |
2012 | Journal Article | Chase JK, 'The logic of Quinean revisability', Synthese, 184, (3) pp. 357-373. ISSN 1573-0964 (2012) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s11229-010-9819-y [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 3Web of Science - 4 | |
2011 | Book | Chase J, Reynolds J, 'Analytic versus continental: arguments on the methods and value of philosophy', Acumen, Durham, UK, pp. 294. ISBN 978-1-84465-244-0 (2011) [Authored Research Book] | |
2002 | Journal Article | Chase JK, 'The non-probabilistic two envelope paradox', Analysis, 62, (2) pp. 157-160. ISSN 0003-2638 (2002) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/1467-8284.00349 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Web of Science - 7 |
Journal Article
(7 outputs)Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
---|---|---|
2020 | Canty AJ, Chase J, Hingston M, Greenwood M, Mainsbridge CP, et al., 'Addressing student attrition within higher education online programs through a collaborative community of practice', Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching, 3, (S1) Article 3. ISSN 2591-801X (2020) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.37074/jalt.2020.3.s1.3 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Canty AJ; Hingston M; Greenwood M; Mainsbridge CP; Skalicky J | |
2018 | Chase J, Rush P, 'Factivity, consistency and knowability', Synthese, 195, (2) pp. 899-918. ISSN 0039-7857 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s11229-016-1253-3 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 2Web of Science - 7 Co-authors: Rush P | |
2016 | Chase JK, 'Voting and vagueness', Synthese: an international journal for epistemology, methodology and philosophy of science, 193 pp. 2453-2468. ISSN 0039-7857 (2016) [Refereed Article] | |
2012 | Chase JK, 'The logic of Quinean revisability', Synthese, 184, (3) pp. 357-373. ISSN 1573-0964 (2012) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s11229-010-9819-y [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 3Web of Science - 4 | |
2004 | Chase JK, 'Indicator Reliabilism', Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, 69, (1) pp. 115-137. ISSN 0031-8205 (2004) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/j.1933-1592.2004.tb00386.x [eCite] [Details] Citations: Web of Science - 4 | |
2002 | Chase JK, 'The non-probabilistic two envelope paradox', Analysis, 62, (2) pp. 157-160. ISSN 0003-2638 (2002) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/1467-8284.00349 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Web of Science - 7 | |
2001 | Chase JK, 'Is externalism about content inconsistent with internalism about justification?', Australasian Journal of Philosophy, 79, (2) pp. 227-246. ISSN 0004-8402 (2001) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1080/713659224 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 17Web of Science - 11 |
Book
(3 outputs)Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
---|---|---|
2019 | Coady D, Chase J, 'The routledge handbook of applied epistemology', Routledge, New York, pp. 356. ISBN 9781138932654 (2019) [Edited Book] Co-authors: Coady D | |
2011 | Chase J, Reynolds J, 'Analytic versus continental: arguments on the methods and value of philosophy', Acumen, Durham, UK, pp. 294. ISBN 978-1-84465-244-0 (2011) [Authored Research Book] | |
2010 | Reynolds J, Chase JK, Williams J, Mares E, 'Postanalytic and metacontinental: crossing philosophical divides', Continuum, London, pp. 255. ISBN 9780826424419 (2010) [Edited Book] |
Chapter in Book
(6 outputs)Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
---|---|---|
2019 | Chase J, Coady D, 'The return of applied epistemology', The Routledge Handbook of Applied Epistemology, Routledge, D Coady and J Chase (ed), New York, pp. 3-12. ISBN 9781138932654 (2019) [Research Book Chapter] DOI: 10.4324/9781315679099 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Coady D | |
2017 | Chase J, Reynolds J, 'Russell, Ryle, and phenomenology: An alternative parsing of the ways', Analytic philosophy: an interpretive history, Routledge, A Preston (ed), London, pp. 52-69. ISBN 9781138800786 (2017) [Research Book Chapter] Co-authors: Reynolds J | |
2010 | Chase J, Reynolds J, 'The fate of transcendental reasoning in contemporary philosophy', Postanalytic and metacontinental: crossing philosophical divides, Continuum, Jack Reynolds, James Chase, James Williams and Edwin Mares (ed), London, pp. 27-52. ISBN 9780826424419 (2010) [Research Book Chapter] | |
2010 | Chase JK, 'Analytic Philosophy and Dialogic Conservatism', Postanalytic and metacontinental: crossing philosophical divides, Continuum, Jack Reynolds, James Chase, James Williams and Edwin Mares (ed), London, pp. 85-104. ISBN 9780826424419 (2010) [Research Book Chapter] | |
2010 | Duke G, Walsh E, Chase JK, Reynolds J, ''Postanalytic' Philosophy: Overcoming the Divide? ', Postanalytic and metacontinental: crossing philosophical divides, Continuum, Jack Reynolds, James Chase, James Williams and Edwin Mares (ed), London, pp. 7-24. ISBN 9780826424419 (2010) [Research Book Chapter] | |
2010 | Reynolds J, Chase JK, Williams J, Mares E, 'Introduction: Postanalytic and Metacontinental Philosophy', Postanalytic and metacontinental: crossing philosophical divides, Continuum, Jack Reynolds, James Chase, James Williams and Edwin Mares (ed), London, pp. 1-6. ISBN 9780826424419 (2010) [Other Book Chapter] |
Review
(1 outputs)Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
---|---|---|
2017 | Chase J, 'J. Adam Carter, Metaepistemology and Relativism, Palgrave Macmillan, 2016, 298pp., $105.00 (hbk), ISBN 9781137336637', Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews, (1st May) pp. 1-2. (2017) [Review Single Work] |
Other Public Output
(1 outputs)Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
---|---|---|
2007 | Chase JK, 'Popper and Military Theory: Background and assessment of the cantos of Reid and Giffin', [report], Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Department of Defence (2007) [Report of Restricted Access] |
Grants & Funding
James has received internal grants and local consultancies for a variety of collaborative projects in his administrative roles. His work on philosophical methodology has been supported by an ARC Discovery grant, yielding a co-authored monograph, an edited collection, and a conference and series of workshops.
Funding Summary
Number of grants
6
Total funding
Projects
- Description
- Building and sharing evidence to improve the ways in which health services are delivered in order to promote the wellbeing of all Tasmanians. This will include development of a situational analysis of relevant state and national reforms and related activities relating to implementing wellness approaches in health care, with a particular focus on the introduction of patient outcome measures and value-based care across the States and Territories. The mapping activities will identify areas of common objectives, goals and activities offering opportunities for the Department of Health to engage in collaborative achievements in implementing wellness approaches.
- Funding
- Department of Health (Tasmania) ($60,000)
- Scheme
- Contract Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Chase JK; Bliss S; Wilson DM
- Year
- 2020
- Description
- The ongoing public debate around anthropogenic climate change makes one thing clear: scientists can have a hard time getting their message across to the public. Various explanations have been given for the lack of public acceptance of the reality of anthropogenic climate changefrom individual biases to manipulation of the media by those with vested interests. In this project, we will explore the hypothesis that: scientists have trouble communicating their findings to the public due to many members of the public having overly simplistic understandings of the nature of natural science. In particular, for example, we are interested in the apparently paradoxical idea that such resistance by the public can be the result of Scientisman excessive or dogmatic belief in the power of scientific knowledge and techniques. Those who view science this way may hold scientific discussion to an unrealistically high standard, and when a theory inevitably falls short of this standard (e.g. when there is seen to be disagreement among experts on climate change), the theory is dismissed as unsettled or a result of bad science. Alternatively, scientific claims may be dismissed as presumptuous or arrogant.In this project a multidisciplinary team will:1.Provide epistemic insights through the exploration of what is knowable in science from a cross-disciplinary perspective.2.Gather baseline data about:(i) the extent to which academic staff teachers, and cohorts of students from across disciplines, understand the nature and process of science;(ii) any correlations between overly simplistic understandings of science and dismissive attitudes towards particular theories, and/or the scientific enterprise in general.This is a pilot for a larger study which will gather a larger data set, and test the effectiveness of one or more interventions that will be designed to aid in the development of a more sophisticated view of science.
- Funding
- University of Tasmania ($10,455)
- Scheme
- Grant - CALE Hothouse Alignment Scheme
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Fraser SP; Chase JK; Coady DA; Corry RL; Parks MC; Konkes C; Wood G; Seen AJ
- Year
- 2018
- Description
- The study investigates Pedagogical Content Knowledge ( PCK) for lecturers across a broad range of disciplines in higher education. It poses three questions:1. Which aspects of their own discipline knowledge do university educators consider crucial for effective teaching? Do lecturers consciously consider this question and, if so, what guides their choices?2. How do dominant beliefs about particular disciplines influence the PCK needed to teach a particular discipline?3. How might a shared understanding of PCK across our disciplines enhance teaching and learning in higher education?
- Funding
- University of Tasmania ($9,947)
- Scheme
- Grant-CAL Hothouse Research Enhancement Program
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Oates GN; Beswick K; Chase JK; Fraser SP; Parks MC; Konkes C; Ross K
- Year
- 2018
- Funding
- Australian Research Council ($213,368)
- Scheme
- Grant-Discovery Projects
- Administered By
- La Trobe University
- Research Team
- Reynolds J; Chase JK
- Period
- 2008 - 2010
- Grant Reference
- DP0879821
- Funding
- Defence Science and Technology Group ($15,000)
- Scheme
- Consultancy
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Chase JK
- Year
- 2006
- Funding
- University of Tasmania ($12,000)
- Scheme
- Grant-Institutional Research Scheme
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Chase JK; Coady DA
- Year
- 2005
Research Supervision
James has supervised PhD projects to completion in epistemology, the philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, and metaphysics and currently and more recently has also supervised students in projects across philosophy and other fields (such as creative writing, literature, education). James is interested in working with doctoral students particularly in topics in applied and theoretical epistemology.
Current
4
Completed
6
Current
Degree | Title | Commenced |
---|---|---|
PhD | The Development of a Conceptual and Pedagogical Model for Teaching Justice, as a Skilled Practice, to School Students | 2018 |
PhD | Conceptions of online Teaching and their Relationship to Teaching Approaches and Pedagogy: A study of Vietnamese University Lecturers teaching postgraduate distance courses | 2019 |
PhD | Stoppard, Wittgenstein, and the Philosophy of Ethics: The Juggler on the Radio | 2020 |
PhD | Queer Ecology and Climate Change: an ethics of failure and futurelessness | 2021 |
Completed
Degree | Title | Completed |
---|---|---|
PhD | Foster Wallace's The Empty Plenum Revisited: Exploring the Intersection of philosophic and literary inquiry Candidate: Julien Vincent Tempone Wiltshire | 2020 |
PhD | Disposition Ascriptions as Suppositions Candidate: Tony John Kerr | 2018 |
PhD | Experience, Reality and Representation: On the implications of a maximally non-deflationary phenomenal realism Candidate: Jason Peter Whatley | 2015 |
PhD | Beyond Beliefs: A Philosophical Examination of Anomalous Phenomena and Explanation Theory Candidate: Hannah Blanch Jenkins | 2007 |
PhD | The Fine-Tuning of the Universe: A Philosophical Analysis Candidate: Graham John Wood | 2005 |
Masters | A Philosophical Interpretation of Judea Pearl's Theory of Causality Candidate: Joel Stafford | 2005 |