Professor Loeb's Stability and Justification in Hume's Treatise (Oxford, 2002) attributes to Hume a constructive epistemological theory, with Hume overestimating the extent to which the theory leads to skeptical or destructive conclusions. His recent research focuses on the role of sentiment and feeling in Treatise Books I and III, the implications of Hume's account of normativity for his sentimentalist ethical theory, Hume's posture toward inductive inference, differences between the Treatise and the Enquiries, and Hume's relationship to Reid. His earlier articles address the role of settled and unshakable belief in Hume, but also in ancient skepticism, Peirce, and Descartes -- with special attention to the problem of the Cartesian circle. Oxford University Press will publish a collection of his papers on seventeenth and eighteenth century epistemology in 2010. In other work, Professor Loeb has explored dissimulation in the Meditations, Descartes' account of mind-body interaction, Hume's second thoughts about personal identity, and his treatment of the idea of necessary connection. Professor Loeb's first book, From Descartes to Hume: Continental Metaphysics and the Development of Modern Philosophy (Cornell, 1981), provides a sustained critique of the distinction between British empiricism and continental rationalism in early modern philosophy. He is currently completing a paper on Locke and later British philosophy. Professor Loeb delivered the American Philosophical Association's Patrick Romanell Lecture on Philosophical Naturalism for 2006-2007.

Professor Loeb in on leave Fall 2009.