Experimental Philosophy Within Its Proper Bounds

InPhilosophy Within its Proper Bounds, edouard Machery argues that the results of experimental philosophy ('x-phi') should lead us to abandon much of traditional philosophical practice. In its place Machery defends naturalized conceptual analysis as a more modest and pragmatic alternative to standard analytic philosophy. This paper argues that Machery overstates the metaphilosophical significance of x-phi's results. We can and should keep many of the insights and good methodological habits that come with x-phi. However, if one is not already convinced of pragmatism or naturalism, the discoveries of x-phi are unlikely to make too much difference to one's metaphilosophical position.