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Ken Taylor
Henry Waldgrave Stuart Professor of Philosophy

Biography

Kenneth's Taylor work lies at the intersection of the philosophy of language and the philosophy of mind, with an occasional foray into the history of philosophy. His other interests include semantics, reference, naturalism, and relativism.

Taylor is a professor of philosophy, and currently chair of the department. He is the author of numerous articles, which have appeared in journals such as Noûs, Philosophical Studies, and Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, and two published books, Meaning and Truth: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Language and Reference and the Rational Mind.

His newest book, Referring to the World: An Introduction to the Theory of Reference, is forthcoming from Oxford University Press.  Before coming to Stanford, Taylor taught in the philosophy departments at Rutgers University, University of Maryland at College Park, Wesleyan University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Middlebury College. He is the co-host, with John Perry, of the radio program Philosophy Talk. 

Key Works

• Professors Enlighten Radio Audiences With Philosophy Talk
  Diverse Issues in Education, April 1, 2010
• Referring to the World: An Introduction to the Theory of Reference.  Oxford University Press, forthcoming 2008.
• Reference and the Rational Mind.  Center for the Study of Language and Information Publications, 2004.
• Truth and Meaning: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Language. Blackwell Publishers, 1998.
• Co-host of a weekly talk show, Philosophy Talk
• Selected papers

Prof. Taylor in the News

• During TEDx-Stanford, philosophy Professor Kenneth Taylor offered the audience a few challenges that put their beliefs to the test 
  TEDx YouTube Channel, August 2, 2012
• 'Philosophy Talk' Radio Show reaches fourth graders 
  University of Washington Perspectives Newsletter, November 17, 2010
• Academics take their message to the masses, on the radio

  Chronicle of Higher Education, May 23, 2010
• San Francisco Chronicle features 'Philosophy Talk' radio show, of which Taylor is a co-host
  San Francisco Chronicle, February 10, 2010
• 200 Episodes of 'Philosophy Talk' Radio Show Illustrate Appetite for Thinking
  Reuters, November 5, 2009
• OSU to host live taping of NPR's 'Philosophy Talk'
  Sandusky Register, January 18, 2009
• Audience grows for Sandusky native's philosophy radio show
  Sandusky Register, January 18, 2009
• Yeah, these philosophy professors will give it some thought 
  Los Angeles Times, July 5, 2008
• Our Town: Talking Philosophy
  Palo Alto Weekly, March 5, 2008
• The rants are lofty on new radio show
  San Francisco Chronicle, March 27, 2004
• ‘Philosophy Talk’ tackles the big questions (not engine trouble)
  Stanford Report, August 6, 2003