James Shaw

James Shaw is an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh. His research traverses philosophy of language, philosophical logic, formal epistemology, ethics, and the history of analytic philosophy, focusing on foundational questions about how thought and language interface with reality, the structure of reasoning, and the limits of expressibility and knowledge.

Shaw's work critically engages with topics such as semantic transparency, rule-following paradoxes, truth-value gaps, and de se belief. His publications exhibit a consistent emphasis on logical rigor applied to metaphysical and epistemic puzzles, often bridging historical insights (e.g., Wittgenstein) with contemporary debates in semantics and modal epistemology. A recurring theme is the exploration of boundaries—whether in sense, expression, or knowledge—and their implications for coherent theorizing.

He maintains an active advising role, mentoring graduate students across diverse areas including metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophy of language. His extensive list of advisees reflects a commitment to fostering academic rigor in philosophical research.