James Owen Weatherall is a physicist, philosopher, and mathematician whose work delves into the profound connections between science and philosophy. He explores how mathematical concepts shape our understanding of the universe and how philosophical questions influence scientific progress. Weatherall's writing is noted for its clarity and its ability to make complex ideas accessible to a broad audience.
Introduces game theory, before assessing working using signaling games to explore questions related to communication, meaning, language, and reference. O'Connor then addresses prosociality - strategic behavior that contributes to the successful functioning of social groups - using the prisoner's dilemma, stag hunt, and bargaining games.
In almost every human society some people get more and others get less. Why is inequity the rule in human societies? Philosopher Cailin O'Connor reveals how cultural evolution works on social categories such as race and gender to generate unfairness
A Harvard scholar argues that mathematical models can provide solutions to current economic challenges, explaining that the economic meltdown of 2008 was based on a misunderstanding of scientific models rather than on the models themselves.
The social dynamics of alternative facts: why what you believe depends on who you know
This Element will overview research using models to understand scientific practice. It argues that while these models are epistemically useful, the best way to employ most of them to understand and improve science is in combination with empirical methods and other sorts of theorizing.