Soazig Le Bihan

Main Project: Dr. Armond Duwell and I are working on a book on scientific understanding. 

An incredibly heteregenous set of practices make up what we call science. Astronomers search the vastness of our galaxy for planets which may support life as we know it. Physicists work tirelessly to develop a theory unifying quantum mechanics and the general theory of relativity. Material scientists seek to develop efficient batteries to help transition to carbon-free energy production systems. Biologists investigate which conditions promote outbreaks of zoonophile viruses. Physicians scramble to develop treatments for the millions of people suffering from Long Covid.  What unifies such diverse practices? Can we say something general enough to cover both the vast array of scientific domains, from physics to medicine, and the  manifold scientific practices, from the most theoretical to the most applied? We think we can. What unifies all of science is that it generates scientific understanding. In Problems and Possibilities, we provide an account of scientific understanding that demonstrates not only the unity of scientific understanding, but the unity of science.  

The common view takes scientific understanding to consist in grasping explanations of phenomena. While explanatory understanding of phenomena is certainly one kind of scientific understanding, this view is far from comprehensive. Many common scientific practices simply do not fit that mold. For example, state ecologists in Western states have to provide estimates of wolf-abundance, which serve as essential input to management decisions, e.g., to determine appropriate numbers of hunting or trapping permits allowed in a given year.  This is a challenging task because wolves are scarce, elusive, and have large territories that are difficult to access.  A comprehensive census is practically impossible. Beyond this, the state agencies in charge of managing wolf populations have limited budgets. So, ecologists are tasked with solving a problem: provide a reasonably precise and accurate estimate of wolf abundances yearly while minimizing financial expenditures.  This involves finding methods to generate data, developing models compatible with various data-generation methods, and evaluating which methods and models provide the best estimates at the lowest cost.  Ecologists competently tackling this problem have some scientific understanding, but it isn't explanatory understanding.  Instead, they understand how to generate data on wolf abundance, how to generate representations of it, how to evaluate various possible options to approach the problem. They have understanding about how to solve the problem at hand. We need a comprehensive theory of understanding that focuses on how scientists competently solve problems rather on a single type of solution -- explanations. Problems and Possibilities provides such a theory. 

PHL 110E Introduction to Engaged Ethics

PHL 262Y Modern Philosophy

PHL 317E Law and Morality

PHL 319E Law and Discrimination

HONR 391 Pre-Law Seminar 

PHL 448/548 Philosophy and Animals

PHL 506 Philosophy of Law

PHL510 Philosophy Colloquium