Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies

Sami Pihlström

Director
Ph.D., Professor of Practical Philosophy (University of Jyväskylä), Docent of Theoretical Philosophy (University of Helsinki)

Mailing address:
Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies
P.O. Box 4
FIN-00014 University of Helsinki
Finland

Tel +358-(0)9-191 23456                        
Fax +358-(0)9-191 24509
Email sami.pihlstrom(AT)helsinki.fi

Selected publications
Curriculum vitae

Areas of Expertise:

• Pragmatism
• The Problem of Realism
• Moral Philosophy
• Philosophy of Religion
• Transcendental Philosophy

Research Title and Abstract:

Pragmatic Pluralism in the Philosophy of Religion

My research during my five-year period as the Director of the HCAS (2009-2014) primarily focuses on, while not being restricted to, the philosophy of religion from a pragmatist perspective. In particular, the relation between – or the entanglement of – metaphysical and ethical issues in pragmatist philosophy of religion is examined. This research is partly based on my former research project, The Ethical Grounds of Metaphysics (Academy of Finland, 2008-11). The key ideas of that project, especially the metaphysics–ethics entanglement, are in the more specific philosophy of religion project applied to issues concerning religion, in order to go beyond standard dichotomies and controversies between, say, evidentialism and fideism or realism and antirealism. Special problems to be studied from a pragmatist perspective include the concepts of evil and guilt, as well as the significance of human mortality. The latter topic is connected with the special theme of the HCAS 2010 call for applications.