Bradley Wilson
Slippery Rock University, USA
Spring 2007

Brad is happy to be returning to the University of Pittsburgh, where he taught in the HPS department from 1991 to 1996. He is now an associate professor in the Philosophy Department at Slippery Rock University (yes, there really is a Slippery Rock University), where he teaches philosophy of science, logic, analytic philosophy and medical ethics.

While at the Center, Brad will be focusing on a philosophical study of scientific experimentation. His main question is: How do experiments in the laboratory allow us to know about the world? He is especially interested in the role of experimentation in evolutionary biology and ecology. Experiments here differ from those of the physical sciences in two ways. On the one hand, they are often done “in nature,” which permits a direct inference to the world. On the other hand, they are typically less general, which makes their range of application limited. Figure out how to combine these two ideas is his main goal.

His non-philosophical interests include frequent travel to Mexico (for the culture and language), attempts at playing the piano, enjoying classical music, and growing hostas and ferns in his woodland garden.