•  152
    Quantum Non-Locality and Relativity (review)
    Philosophical Review 105 (2): 259-262. 1996.
    Sherlock Holmes is reputed to have once remarked impatiently to his earnest but plodding colleague Watson, “How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?” In Quantum Non-Locality and Relativity, Tim Maudlin offers us a thorough and provocative argument based on this methodological principle. Maudlin insists that all explanations of the mysterious non-local correlations of quantum mechanics must by now be reject…Read more
  •  127
    On the edge of a paradigm shift: Quantum nonlocality and the breakdown of peaceful coexistence
    International Studies in the Philosophy of Science 12 (2). 1998.
    I present a thought experiment in quantum mechanics and tease out some of its implications for the doctrine of “peaceful coexistence”, which, following Shimony, I take to be the proposition that quantum mechanics does not force us to revise or abandon the relativistic picture of causality. I criticize the standard arguments in favour of peaceful coexistence on the grounds that they are question-begging, and suggest that the breakdown of Lorentz-invariant relativity as a principle theory would be…Read more
  •  87
    Symbiosis and the Ecological Role of Philosophy
    Dialogue 38 (4): 699-718. 1999.
    RésuméCet article défend une approche à la philosophic et à l'éthique environnementale qui a originalement été avancée par Aldo Leopold. Selon cet auteur, l'éthique peut être comprise, d'un point de vue biologique, comme la forme spécifiquement humaine de la symbiose. La question cruciate de notre époque est de savoir si les humains peuvent coexister avec l'environnement global en un état de symbiose. La philosophie et les sciences humaines en général peuvent contribuer grandement à l'atteinte d…Read more
  •  78
    It seems to me that it is among the most sure-footed of quantum physicists, those who have it in their bones, that one finds the greatest impatience with the idea that the ‘foundations of quantum mechanics’ might need some attention. Knowing what is right by instinct, they can become a little impatient with nitpicking distinctions between theorems and assumptions. —John Stewart Bell [4, p. 33]
  •  73
    I explore the application of the “no-go” theorems of quantum mechanics to the problem of the openness of the future. The notion of fatalism can be made precise if we think of it as a claim that the future has a Boolean property structure. However, if this is correct, then it may be the case that by the “no-go” theorems of quantum mechanics the future must be at least partially open in the precise sense that there cannot be a fact of the matter at a given time about some events at later times.
  •  72
    There are a lot of expressions of pessimism these days about whether we can save the environment — and thereby ourselves. Some of this pessimism is self-serving, but most of it is quite genuine. People look at the trends, and they despair — or else go into denial. And those who despair will almost invariably point to one factor above all others — the threat of overpopulation. No matter whether we recycle all our waste, switch entirely to non-polluting energy sources, sponge the skies of CFCs and…Read more
  •  59
    The twilight of certainty -- Einstein and light -- The Bohr atom and old quantum theory -- Uncertain synthesis -- Dualities -- Elements of physical reality -- Creation and annihilation -- Quantum mechanics goes to work -- Symmetries and resonances -- "The most profound discovery of science" -- Bits, qubits, and the ultimate computer -- Unfinished. business.
  •  44
    Philosophy of ecology (edited book)
    with Kevin deLaplante and Bryson Brown
    North-Holland. 2011.
    The most pressing problems facing humanity today - over-population, energy shortages, climate change, soil erosion, species extinctions, the risk of epidemic disease, the threat of warfare that could destroy all the hard-won gains of civilization, and even the recent fibrillations of the stock market - are all ecological or have a large ecological component. in this volume philosophers turn their attention to understanding the science of ecology and its huge implications for the human project. T…Read more
  •  41
    The three faces of ecological fitness
    Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences 42 (1): 99-105. 2011.
    This paper argues that fitness is most usefully understood as those properties of organisms that are explanatory of survival in the broadest sense, not merely descriptive of reproductive success. Borrowing from Rosenberg and Bouchard , fitness in this sense is ecological in that it is defined by the interactions between organisms and environments. There are three sorts of ecological fitness: the well-documented ability to compete, the ability to cooperate , and a third sense of fitness that has …Read more
  •  38
    A Model of the Universe (review)
    Review of Metaphysics 49 (2): 419-420. 1995.
    Not too many metaphysicians in these hypercritical times would dream of offering a theory of everything, but Storrs McCall, who modestly compares his new book to The Origin of Species, claims that his theory may accomplish nothing less than to "illuminate, perhaps even resolve" problems such as "the direction and flow of time; what causation consists of; the nature of scientific laws; the interpretation of quantum mechanics; objective probability; counterfactuals and related conditionals; the id…Read more
  •  37
    Is the human species itself the ultimate Untenable Absurdity? This paper will be a serious (for which I apologize) but rambling philosophical reflection on the grim prospects for our species in the face of peak oil, climate change, warfare, overpopulation, and other looming ecological catastrophes.
  •  32
    The purpose of this paper is to pick up the threads of a debate about the ontology of becoming in spacetime that was triggered by a provocative article published by Nicholas Maxwell in 1985. This debate is itself merely a recent episode in a long dialogue that goes back at least as far as the time of Parmenides and Heraclitus. Here is the question around which this debate centres: is change or becoming the distinguishing feature of the natural or physical world, as suggested obscurely by Heracli…Read more
  •  29
    Bub and the barriers to quantum ontology
    International Studies in the Philosophy of Science 16 (3). 2002.
    (2002). Bub and the barriers to quantum ontology. International Studies in the Philosophy of Science: Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 285-289. doi: 10.1080/0269859022000013346
  •  25
    Mistakes of reason: essays in honour of John Woods (edited book)
    with Andrew D. Irvine
    University of Toronto Press. 2005.
    The essays evaluate Woods' work and celebrate the generous contribution that he has made to Canada?s intellectual development over the past forty years.
  •  22
    As Much as Possible, as Soon As Possible: Getting Negative About Emissions
    Ethics, Policy and Environment 25 (3): 281-296. 2022.
    This paper is a report on the viability, both technical and ethical, of negative emissions technologies (NETs) in climate change mitigation. Given present levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, NETs are almost certainly required in order to avoid the most serious consequences of anthropogenic carbonization. Critics argue that we should not rely on the promise of future NETs because that could be taken as an excuse to avoid decarbonization in the near term. The concern is genuine, but if the prima…Read more
  •  21
    A New Look at Simultaneity
    PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association 1992. 1992.
    It is generally believed that an invariant notion of a global present or "Now" cannot be defined in special relativity, because of the relativity of optical simultaneity. I argue that this may be a non sequitur since it is not necessarily the case that the psychological "Now" should be thought of as associated with constant time slices in spacetime. By considering a science fictional version of the Twin Paradox due to Robert A. Heinlein, I argue that it is psychologically plausible to associate …Read more
  •  18
    Would Superluminal Influences Violate the Principle of Relativity?
    Lato Sensu: Revue de la Société de Philosophie des Sciences 1 (1): 49-62. 2014.
    It continues to be alleged that superluminal in uences of any sort would be inconsistent with special relativity for the following three reasons: they would imply the existence of a ‘distinguished’ frame; they would allow the detection of absolute motion; and they would violate the relativity of simultaneity. This paper shows that the first two objections rest upon very elementary misunderstandings of Minkowski geometry and on lingering Newtonian intuitions about instantaneity. The third objecti…Read more
  •  17
    From Physics to Metaphysics (review)
    Canadian Journal of Philosophy 28 (2): 287-309. 1998.
  •  17
    This is a review of those key thought experiments in physics from the late 19th century onward that seem to have played a particular role in the process of the discovery or advancement of theory. Among others the paper discusses Maxwell's demon, several of Einstein's thought experiments in relativity, Heisenberg's microscope, the Einstein-Schrödinger cat, and the EPR thought experiment.
  •  15
    James Hansen and others have argued that climate scientists are often reluctant to speak out about extreme outcomes of anthropogenic carbonization. According to Hansen, such reticence lessens the chance of effective responses to these threats. With the collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet as a case study, reasons for scientific reticence are reviewed. The challenges faced by scientists in finding the right balance between reticence and speaking out are both ethical and methodological. Scient…Read more
  •  11
    A Different Kind of Rigor: What Climate Scientists Can Learn from Emergency Room Doctors
    Ethics, Policy and Environment 21 (2): 194-214. 2018.
    ABSTRACTJames Hansen and others have argued that climate scientists are often reluctant to speak out about extreme outcomes of anthropogenic carbonization. According to Hansen, such reticence lessens the chance of effective responses to these threats. With the collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet as a case study, reasons for scientific reticence are reviewed. The challenges faced by scientists in finding the right balance between reticence and speaking out are both ethical and methodological…Read more
  •  9
    Critical Notice
    Canadian Journal of Philosophy 28 (2): 287-309. 1998.
  •  9
    Quantum Non-Locality and Relativity (review)
    Philosophical Review 105 (2): 259-262. 1996.
    Sherlock Holmes is reputed to have once remarked impatiently to his earnest but plodding colleague Watson, “How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?” In Quantum Non-Locality and Relativity, Tim Maudlin offers us a thorough and provocative argument based on this methodological principle. Maudlin insists that all explanations of the mysterious non-local correlations of quantum mechanics must by now be reject…Read more
  •  9
    Introduction: John Woods in Profile
    with Andrew D. Irvine
    In Kent A. Peacock & Andrew D. Irvine (eds.), Mistakes of reason: essays in honour of John Woods, University of Toronto Press. pp. 1-12. 2005.
  •  9
    The Einstein-DeSitter Controversy
    with Richard Feist
    ProtoSociology 10 235-238. 1997.
  •  6
    Books by John Woods
    with Andrew D. Irvine
    In Kent A. Peacock & Andrew D. Irvine (eds.), Mistakes of reason: essays in honour of John Woods, University of Toronto Press. pp. 517-520. 2005.
  •  4
    Preface
    with Andrew D. Irvine
    In Kent A. Peacock & Andrew D. Irvine (eds.), Mistakes of reason: essays in honour of John Woods, University of Toronto Press. 2005.
  •  3
    Contributors
    with Andrew D. Irvine
    In Kent A. Peacock & Andrew D. Irvine (eds.), Mistakes of reason: essays in honour of John Woods, University of Toronto Press. pp. 511-516. 2005.