• Philosophy of Logic, 5 Questions (edited book)
    with Thomas Adajian
    Automatic Press. 2016.
    Philosophy of Logic: 5 Questions is a collection of interviews with some of the world's most influential and prominent scholars working on philosophy of logic. The questions: Why were you initially drawn to the philosophy of logic? What are your main contributions to the philosophy of logic? What is the proper role of philosophy of logic in relation to other disciplines, and to other branches of philosophy? What have been the most significant advances in the philosophy of logic? What are the mos…Read more
  •  121
    There are significant problems involved in determining the ontology of quantum field theory. An ontology involving particles seems to be ruled out due to the problem of defining localized position operators, issues involving interactions in QFT, and, perhaps, the appearance of unitarily inequivalent representations. While this might imply that fields are the most natural ontology for QFT, the wavefunctional interpretation of QFT has significant drawbacks. A modified field ontology is examined wh…Read more
  •  59
    The Limits of Physical Equivalence in Algebraic Quantum Field Theory
    British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 69 (2): 553-576. 2016.
    Some physicists and philosophers argue that unitarily inequivalent representations in quantum field theory are mathematical surplus structure. Support for that view, sometimes called ‘algebraic imperialism’, relies on Fell’s theorem and its deployment in the algebraic approach to QFT. The algebraic imperialist uses Fell’s theorem to argue that UIRs are ‘physically equivalent’ to each other. The mathematical, conceptual, and dynamical aspects of Fell’s theorem will be examined. Its use as a crite…Read more
  •  17
    A Logical Choice
    Southwest Philosophy Review 28 (1): 237-246. 2012.
    It is usually assumed that the modal ontological argument is valid. However, the logical system in which the argument is analyzed can require different assumptions to secure validity. Some strategies for the both critics and proponents of the modal ontological argument are examined in different logical systems. For agnostics, statements involving a perfect being may have a truth value other than true or false. A many-valued modal logic may be a more suitable framework for agnostics, and the moda…Read more
  •  21
    Waving at Schrödinger
    Metascience 18 (3): 463-467. 2009.
  •  83
    A physical critique of physical causation
    Synthese 167 (1). 2009.
    The conserved quantities theory of causation (CQTC) attempts to use physics as the basis for an account of causation. However, a closer examination of the physics involved in CQTC reveals several critical failures. Some of the conserved quantities in physics cannot be used to distinguish causal interactions. Other conserved quantities cannot always be the properties of fields or particles. Finally, CQCT does not account for causal interactions that are static.
  •  34
    A Logical Choice
    Southwest Philosophy Review 28 (1): 237-246. 2012.
    It is usually assumed that the modal ontological argument is valid. However, the logical system in which the argument is analyzed can require different assumptions to secure validity. Some strategies for the both critics and proponents of the modal ontological argument are examined in different logical systems. For agnostics, statements involving a perfect being may have a truth value other than true or false. A many-valued modal logic may be a more suitable framework for agnostics, and the moda…Read more