“From a Microbiological Point of View”

My doctoral dissertation is a collection of papers on a variety of topics (kinds, explanations, experiments) in the philosophy of biology.

I’ve posted:

1) a three paragraph summary

2) a three page summary

3) my thesis proposal (20 pg) pdf (out of date, from 5/2005)

Sample Chapters (none of these are in final form)

“Plato’s Joints” pdf-paper; pdf-talk; powerpoint

An analysis of biological joints which argues that metaphorical talk of

“cutting the world at its joints” is misleading and that the “natural joints”

metaphor should be either modified or abandoned

“Bacteria, Sex and Systematics” pdf (this version is longer than the published version)

An inquiry into problems facing those who aim to categorize bacteria according

to an evolutionary standard. I argue that evolutionary categorization as normally

practiced is coupled with questionable metaphysical commitments

“Mechanisms under the Microscope” pdf;

An attempt to understand the New Mechanist program in the philosophy of

biology by considering how an account of biological mechanisms might

help us understand the structure of biological explanation. I argue that extant accounts of mechanisms

do not help with this important task

“Species Ontology in Possible (and Actual) Worlds” pdf

An inquiry into the empirical legitimacy of the requirement that species be

“spatiotemporally connected,” arguing that they are not so connected

“Exploratory Experiments” pdf

A discussion of experimental method in contemporary biology, arguing that

there are circumstances when exploratory experiments should be preferred

for reasons of efficiency

CHAPTERS to be posted SOON

“Parts and Parenthood”

“Developmental Reductionism”

“Modular Anti-Reductionism”

PAPERS to be posted, BUT NOT SO SOON

“Conventionalism and Pluralist Realism: Locating the Real Difference”

“Ersatz Animals”