I work mainly in philosophy of science. My primary interest is currently in how knowledge is produced in field sciences, i.e., in sciences outside the confines of the laboratory and unable to conduct shielded experiments. What is the relation, for instance, between the development of abstract economic models, and progress in terms of better predictions and explanations of messy real-world events? Roughly speaking, I argue for more emphasis on local empirical work and less on development of generalised theory. I am also interested in the role of prediction. When can we rest content with after-the-fact explanation, and when should we insist ins…

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