Conceptual Engineering is Old News

According to a prevailing view, conceptual engineering (rigorous revision and design of concepts) introduces a revolutionary philosophical methodology, challenging traditional conceptual analysis. However, closer scrutiny reveals not only the falsity but also the inherent ambiguity of this narrative. The talk will explore four interpretations of the ‘Anti-Novelty Claim’, the claim that conceptual engineering is not a new way of doing philosophy; those different interpretations of the Anti-Novelty Claim range from nearly trivially true to unlikely but untested. Importantly, each interpretation offers unique philosophical insights, yet addressing them requires diverse types of evidence, preventing a singular, straightforward answer to whether conceptual engineering is new.