Philosophy of Science Research Group faculty

 

Philosophy

Andrew Bailey

Dr. Bailey's research focuses on the relation between phenomenal consciousness and the brain.  He is also interested in the nature of physicalism, the role of 'phenomenal content' in epistemology, and the place of a priori 'arguments from conceivability' in philosophy. Dr. Bailey holds an adjunct faculty position with the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Applied Cognitive Science.

 

Sample publications:

(2014) "Horgan and Tienson on Phenomenology and Intentionality." Philosophical Studies 167:  313–326.

(2013)  Philosophy of Mind: The Key Thinkers, ed. Andrew Bailey. London: Bloomsbury Academic

(2007) "Representation and a Science of Consciousness.” Journal of Consciousness Studies 14 (2007). 62-76.

 

 Don Dedrick

Dr Dedrick`s work focuses on the study of colour categorization (colour concepts & colour language). I am interested in the cognitive abilities that underlie colour naming, and in the ways in which those abilities interact with culturally contingent variables. He is cross-appointed with the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Applied Cognitive Science.

 

Sample publications:

(2014)  "Color language, thought, and culture."  F. Sharifiian (Ed.), Routledge handbook to mind, language and culture. Routledge.

(2014) "Bornstein's paradox (redux)."  Wendy Anderson, Carole P. Biggam, Carole Hough, Christian Kay (Eds.), Colour studies: A broad spectrum. John Benjamins.

(2013) Review of The semantics of colour: A historical approach . Carole P. Biggam. Cambridge University Press. Language, v.89, n.4.

 

Karyn Freedman

Dr. Freedman's main research interests are epistemological. In particular, she is concerned with questions about the nature of justification and the idea of epistemic responsibility. Her recent work focuses on the epistemology of recalcitrant emotions.

Website: http://karynfreedman.com/

 

Sample publications:

(2015) "Group Accountability Versus Justified Belief: A Reply to Kukla, " Social Epistemology Review and Reply Collective, Vol. 4, No. 7, 6-12.

(2015) "Testimony and Epistemic Risk: The Dependence Account,"  Social Epistemology, Vol. 29, No. 3, 251-269.

(2014) One Hour in Paris: A True Story of Rape and Recovery (University of Chicago Press).

 

Maya Goldenberg

Dr. Goldenberg`s research builds on the broad focus of “science and the publics” (or public understanding of science; expert-lay communications) in philosophy of science and science studies. I am writing a book on vaccine hesitancy among parents regarding childhood vaccine schedules. It will be published by University of Pittsburgh Press. She is cross-appointed with the Bachelor of Arts and Science Program..

 

Sample publications:

(2015) “Whose social values? Evaluating Canada's 'Death of Evidence' Controversy’” Canadian Journal of Philosophy 45(3): 404-424.

(2014) "Diversity in Epistemic Communities: A Response to Clough." Social Epistemology Review and Reply Collective 3: 25-30.

(2013) "How can Feminist Theories of Evidence Assist Clinical Reasoning and Decision-Making?" Social Epistemology  doi: 10.1080/02691728.2013.794871.

 

Stefan Linquist

Dr. Linquist works on a range of topics in the philosophy of biology. He is currently working on the cultural evolution of emotion. A second project investigates the function-junk distinction in genomics. A third project explores the existence of laws in ecology and considers whether genomes can be profitably viewed as ecosystems in miniature. Dr. Linquist regularly collaboraties with several members of the departments of Integrative Biology and Computer Science. Each year he co-teaches a graduate seminar on the philosophy of biology with Dr. Ryan Gregory. 

website: www.biophilosophy.ca

 

Sample publications:

(2016) Which evolutionary model best explains the culture of honour? Biology and Philosophy (forthcoming) 

(2015) Applying ecological models to communities of genetic elements: the case of neutral theory. Molecular Ecology, 24(13): 3232-3242.

(2015) , Against Lawton's contingency thesis, or, why the reported demise of community ecology is greatly exaggerated . Philosophy of Science, 82(5)

 

Andrew Wayne

Dr. Wayne's research focuses on topics in philosophy of science and history and philosophy of modern physics, including: the unification of scientific theories; the historical development of particle physics and quantum field theory from about 1930 to the present; reduction and emergence in physics; scientific explanation; modeling and idealization in science. IHe is currently working on a book on explanation in physics.

 

Sample publications:

(2015) "Causal Relations and Explanatory Strategies in Physics" (International Studies in the Philosophy of Science 29:75-89.

(2011) "Expanding the Scope of Explanatory Idealization" (Philosophy of Science 78(5): 830-841

(2010) "Emergence and Singular Limits" (Synthese 184(3): 341-356.

 

 

Integrative Biology

 Karl Cottenie

Theoretical issues in conservation biology and ecology. Karl's scientific research investigates metacommunity dynamics in pond communities. Recently, he has been collaborating on the Genome Ecology Research Project.   

 

 

 

Ryan Gregory

Biodiversity; cytogenetics; evolution; genome biology.

 

 

 
Kevin McCann

Food web ecology; ecosystem/community ecology; theoretical ecology.

 

 

 

 Tom Nudds

My interest in the philosophy of science stems from a concern about the uses and abuses to which scientific knowledge is put in policy arenas. Too often, individuals putatively educated in science commit serious lapses of scientific integrity in the name of political causes. Many scientists, and consequently many lay people, use science for support, not illumination. Scientific advocacy, however, is an oxymoron; science takes part, it doesn't take sides. The problem stems directly from a general lack of emphasis in science curricula on history and philosophy of science, of which we need much more. Insufficient attention is paid to discussion of "What is science?" Consequently, the very institution of science is under threat, increasing the risk that society adopts policy based on unreliable scientific knowledge, with counterproductive or even harmful consequences.    

Beren Robinson

Adaptive evolution; ecology of natural selection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Psychology

Kieran O'Doherty

I have a number of different research interests that tend to overlap and interact with each other in different ways, and much of my research is interdisciplinary. In general, I conduct research that is qualitative or theoretical. Topic areas that I focus on include the social aspects of health and illness, public participation in biotechnology and science, genetic risk, the language of uncertainty, and participatory governance. I am also interested in questions of ethics, human agency, and epistemology and ontology in science and psychology. For more details on publications, collaborations, and current projects please visit my research group home page here: http://dsp.psychology.uoguelph.ca/