Metaphysics and Philosophy of Science

Our strengths in metaphysics and philosophy of science span from core areas of analytic metaphysics (including questions about the nature of time, properties, and causation) to issues of scientific practice. We have particular interests in the role of imagination and fiction in mathematics and science.

Metaphysics and Philosophy of Science group members

David Ingram

Metaphysics; Philosophy of Time

Temporal ontology
Truth and truth-making
Properties
Propositions
Modality

Mary Leng

Philosophy of Mathematics and Science

Mathematical fictionalism
Pluralism vs monism in the philosophy of mathematics
Mathematical explanation in science

Paul Noordhof

Causation

Fiora Salis

Philosophy of Science and Cognitive Science

Imagination and creativity (cognitive foundations)
Scientific fictions, models and thought experiments
Epistemology of scientific imagination

Mike Stuart

Philosophy of Science

Scientific imagination and creativity
Scientific tools (thought experiments, models, visualizations, computer simulations)
The impact of artificial intelligence on science
Empirical methods for philosophy of science

Rob Trueman

Higher-order metaphysics

The metaphysics of properties
The identity theory of truth
The limits of thought

Research highlights

From 2026-2031, Mike Stuart will be principal investigator on the ERC Consolidator Grant “Scientific Progress and Artificial Intelligence: a Capabilities-Based Ethnographic Epistemology”.

Research degrees

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