My research examines how the natural world became an object of scientific inquiry, how philosophical and mathematical methods came to be the preferred tools to be applied to its study, and what that means for inquiry and understanding. Related to this, I am interested in questions of philosophical methodology and how scientists and philosophers construe their relationships to their predecessors.
Published Work:
Article: ‘Aristotle’s Account of Quick-wittedness.’ Ancient Philosophy (forthcoming)
Sometimes things just click. This paper offers a new understanding of how Aristotle thinks it is possible for someone to discover the explanatory middle term of a deduction and to do so by means of a fast, seemingly effortless, non-discursive process.
Article: ‘Aristotle on What is Beyond Us.’ Ancient Philosophy 44.2 (2024)
When should one dismiss an alternative idea or proposal out of hand? This paper examines when Aristotle thinks he cannot constructively engage with and criticize a rival proposal and investigates his principled criteria for dismissing a view completely.
Review: ‘B.M. Sattler’s The Concept of Motion in Ancient Greek Thought (2020.)’ Rhizomata 12.2 (2024)
Under Review:
Article on Aristotle’s Natural Science. [details redacted for anonymous review] revise and resubmit
Article on Aristotle’s Account of Technē. [details redacted for anonymous review]
Work in Progress:
Monograph: Establishing Natural Science: Principle Justification in Aristotle’s Physics
Article: On Treating Lies – Healing and Wandering in Plato’s Lesser Hippias (email for draft)
Article: Aristotle on Motion and the Objects of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (email for draft)
Non-academic Work:
‘How Traditions Progress.’ AEON magazine (Nov. 13, 2023)
Drawing on ideas from Aristotle and my experience with one of Switzerland’s national sports, the article challenges the assumption that tradition is inherently conservative, showing instead how it can be a vehicle of innovation.
Click here to learn more about my Teaching
Picture taken on Antelope Island Utah, 2015