Affiliations
I am an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Missouri, Columbia. I am also affiliated with the University of Missouri's Life Science and Society Program.
Before arriving at the University of Missouri in 2006, I was an Assistant then Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Rhode Island (1997-2006). I have held visiting positions at: the Department of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1994-1995), the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at Cambridge University (2005), and I was an Associate at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard (1998-2006).
Before arriving at the University of Missouri in 2006, I was an Assistant then Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Rhode Island (1997-2006). I have held visiting positions at: the Department of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1994-1995), the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at Cambridge University (2005), and I was an Associate at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard (1998-2006).
Research
My research specialty is philosophy of science, especially the philosophy of biology.
My papers can be found here (with links).
I am currently writing a book-length manuscript, How Probability Changed Natural Selection. I have a blog that chronicles my progress:
My papers can be found here (with links).
I am currently writing a book-length manuscript, How Probability Changed Natural Selection. I have a blog that chronicles my progress:
Teaching
This Spring 2010 I am teaching PHL 1200: Reason and Logic and a graduate seminar on the philosophy of science. The focus of the seminar is evolutionary theory and its applicability to a wide variety of disciplines. We have an active blog: mizzouphilsciers
Here's a schedule of classes and their topics (all sessions are held at 217 Mumford Hall, 3:30-5:50 pm unless otherwise indicated):
Here's a schedule of classes and their topics (all sessions are held at 217 Mumford Hall, 3:30-5:50 pm unless otherwise indicated):
- 1/26, Natural Selection: Ariew
- 2/2, Population Thinking: Ariew
- 2/9, Evolutionary economics/management: Professor Randall Westgren, McQuinn Chair of Entrepreneurial Leadership, Department of Ag Econ, University of Missouri.
- 2/16, Reductionism, Ariew
- 2/25, (this is a Thursday meeting): Idealization: Michael Weisberg, Department of Philosophy, University of Pennsylvania. To be held in Life Sciences 572, 4pm.
- 3/2, Optimality: Collin Rice, Department of Philosophy, University of Missouri
- 3/9, Model building: Jay Odenbaugh, Department of Philosophy, Lewis and Clark University
- 3/16, Mathematical Explanation: Christopher Pincock, Department of Philosophy, Purdue University
- 3/24, Causation: Michael Hartsock, Department of Philosophy, Millikin University (as of Fall 2010)
- 4/8, (this is a Thursday meeting): Statistical explanation: Denis Walsh, Canadian Research Chair in Philosophy, Department of Philosophy and Institute of the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, University of Toronto.
- 4/13, Organism and Environment, Lynn Chiu, Department of Philosophy, University of Missouri.
- 4/20, Game Theory, Yasha Rohwer, Department of Philosophy, University of Missouri.
- 4/27, Laws and contingency, Joshua Smart, Department of Philosophy, University of Missouri
- 5/4, Evidence, Jenny Coon, Department of Philosophy, University of Missouri.
Links
The University of Missouri's Philosophy Department is on Facebook.
Here is a blog devoted to philosophy of science issues: "Itsonlyatheory"
Here is my own blog on ideas for my book (in progress), "How Probability Changed Natural Selection"
Here is the blog for my Philosophy of Science course on Evolution Theory
Here is a blog devoted to philosophy of science issues: "Itsonlyatheory"
Here is my own blog on ideas for my book (in progress), "How Probability Changed Natural Selection"
Here is the blog for my Philosophy of Science course on Evolution Theory
Education
I received my PhD in philosophy with a minor in evolutionary biology from the University of Arizona in 1997. I also did graduate work in philosophy and evolutionary biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
My mentors include Robert Cummins, Richard Lewontin, Mohan Matthen, Richard Michod, Michael Ruse, Elliott Sober, and Denis Walsh.
My mentors include Robert Cummins, Richard Lewontin, Mohan Matthen, Richard Michod, Michael Ruse, Elliott Sober, and Denis Walsh.