Research
Current project: To investigate Newton's work on the relativity of
motion, and its relation to his ideas about the nature of space and
time, the methodology of physics, and the relations between
physics and mathematics. A major part of this work was developed and
completed in collaboration with
the late Prof. George E. Smith (1938-2024), Tufts University.
Long-term project: To take those quotes off of "philosopher".
Books:
Understanding Spacetime: The
Philosophical Development of Physics from Newton to Einstein.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006.
Translation: Capire lo
spazio-tempo: Lo sviluppo
filosofico della fisica da Newton a Einstein. A. Migliori, tr.
Torino: Bollati Borighieri, 2009.
Edited books:
Henri Poincaré, Philosopher of
Science: Problems and Perspectives. Western Ontario Series in the
Philosophy of Science, volume 81. Edited by Maria
DePaz and Robert DiSalle. New York: Springer, 2014.
Analysis and Interpretation in the
Exact Sciences. Western Ontario Series in the Philosophy of Science,
volume 78. Edited by Mélanie Frappier, Derek Brown, and Robert
DiSalle. New York: Springer, 2012.
Selected articles:
"The
relativity of motion and the method of mathematical physics."
In Theory, Evidence, Data: Themes
from George E. Smith. C. Smeenk and M. Stan, editors. Springer,
2023.
"Carnap,
Einstein, and the epistemological foundations of space-time
geometry." In Logical Empiricism
and
the Physical Sciences: From Philosophy of Nature to Philosophy of
Physics. S. Lutz and A. Tuboly, editors. New York: Routledge,
2021.
"Absolute
space and Newton's theory of relativity." Studies in History and Philosophy of
Modern Physics, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j/shpsb.2020
"Space-time:
Inertial frames." The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Originally published 2002; extensively revised, 2020.
“Poincaré on the relativity of space and the construction of
space-time.” In DePaz, M., and DiSalle, R. (eds.) Henri Poincaré, Philosopher of
Science: Problems and Perspectives.
“Conventionalism.” In The
Routledge
Companion to the Philosophy of Science, 2nd edition, S. Psillos
and M. Curd, eds. London: Routledge, 2014.
“The transcendental method from Newton to Kant.” Studies in History and Philosophy of
Science, Part A 44 (2013): 448-456.
“Analysis and interpretation in the philosophy of modern physics.” In
M. Frappier, D. Brown, and R. DiSalle, eds. Analysis and Interpretation in the Exact
Sciences.
“Synthesis, the Synthetic A Priori, and the Origins of Modern
Space-time Theory.” In Discourse
on
A New Method: Re-Invigorating the Marriage of History and Philosophy of
Science. M. Dickson and M. Domski. Chicago: Open Court Press,
2011.
“Pitholes
in space-time: On the structure and ontology of space-time
theories.” In Vintage
Enthusiasms:
Papers in Honour of John L. Bell. Western Ontario Series in the Philosophy
of Science, v. 75. P. Clark, D. DeVidi, and M.
Hallett, eds. . New York:
Springer, 2011.
Old "Classics" (Be the first to read them!)
"Spacetime Theory as Physical Geometry," Erkenntnis,
vol. 42, 1995 , pp. 317-337.
"On Dynamics, Indiscernibility, and Spacetime Ontology." British
Journal for the Philosophy of Science, vol. 45, 1994, pp. 265-287.