James McAllister
Professor History and Philosophy of Science
- Name
- Prof.dr. J.W. McAllister
- Telephone
- +31 71 527 2004
- j.w.mcallister@hum.leidenuniv.nl
- ORCID iD
- 0000-0003-0164-1638
James McAllister is Professor of History and Philosophy of Science at the Institute for Philosophy.
Research
Prof. McAllister’s research is in the field of History and Philosophy of Science. Current research themes include the relation between patterns in empirical data and the structure of the world, beauty and effortlessness in scientific practice, the role of emotions in scientists’ decisions, thought experiments, and the relation between history of science and philosophy of science. McAllister is the author of Beauty and Revolution in Science (Cornell University Press, 1996) and editor of International Studies in the Philosophy of Science.
McAllister was PI of the NWO-funded research programme, “Philosophical Foundations of the Historiography of Science”, 2008–2013.
Curriculum Vitae
For more information, please see CV
Professor History and Philosophy of Science
- Faculty of Humanities
- Instituut voor Wijsbegeerte
- McAllister J.W.. Moeite. Instituut voor Wijsbegeerte, Faculteit der Geesteswetenschappen, Universiteit Leiden. Leiden. [inaugural address].
- McAllister J.W. (21 September 2012), Is Beauty a Sign of Truth in Science?. seminar. College of Philosophy and Sociology, Beijing Normal University. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (19 January 2012), Perspectivalism about Structures in the World. workshop Perspectivalism. Vakgroep Wijsbegeerte en Moraalwetenschap, Universiteit Gent. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (25 June 2012), Realism and Materialism in Recent Historiography of Science. workshop Historiography and the Philosophy of the Sciences. Department of Philosophy, Durham University. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (8 March 2012), History of Science and the Role of Intervening Time. Erasmus Graduate Conference in Philosophy of Science. Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (19 September 2012), The Veracity of Empirical Data: A Causal Account of Observational Error. International Conference on Scientific Explanation and Methodology of Science. Research Center for Philosophy of Science and Technology, Shanxi University. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (27 April 2012), Verklarende kracht van religieuze kennis. symposium God in the Age of Science?. Descartes Centre for the History and Philosophy of the Sciences and the Humanities, Universiteit Utrecht. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (21 June 2012), Emotion in Scientific Practice. 4e KNAW-Hendrik Muller Zomerseminar. Internationale School voor Wijsbegeerte, Leusden. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (6 September 2012), Moeiteloosheid. college opening collegejaar. Instituut voor Wijsbegeerte, Universiteit Leiden. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (17 April 2012), Ruđer Bošković, the Paradoxes of Contact Action, and the Rise of Dynamism. 39th Annual Philosophy of Science Conference. Inter-University Centre, Dubrovnik. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (27 November 2012), Is Beauty a Sign of Truth in Science?. symposium Beautiful Science: Between Elegance and Universal Truth. Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (2 October 2012), Is Beauty a Sign of Truth in Science?. lezing. Sectie Filosofie, Technische Universiteit Delft. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (12 July 2012), The Porous Border Between Theoretical and Epistemic Virtues: The Case of Theoretical Beauty. workshop Theoretical Virtues in Theory-Choice. Zukunftskolleg, Universität Konstanz. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (31 March 2012), La visione algoritmica della natura. convegno Matematica e Cultura 2012. Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere e Arti, Venetië. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (12 April 2011), Scientific Journal Publishing as Costly Signalling. 38th Annual Philosophy of Science Conference, Inter-University Centre. Inter-University Centre, Dubrovnik. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (13 May 2011), Schoonheid en waarheid in de wetenschap. Symposium "Schoonheid en wetenschap", Museum Boerhaave. Leiden. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (17 May 2011), Limits to the Algorithmic Compression of Empirical Data. Seminar "Algorithmic Randomness", Université Paris Diderot. Paris. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (11 March 2011), Schoonheid en waarheid in de wetenschap. Symposium "Schoonheid en wetenschap", Museum Boijmans van Beuningen. Rotterdam. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (9 September 2011), Boscovich, the Paradoxes of Contact Action, and the Rise of Dynamism. Boscovich 2011: International Conference for the Tercentenary of the Birth of Ruggiero Giuseppe Boscovich, Università degli Studi di Pavia. Pavia. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (8 October 2011), Emotion in Scientists’ Decision Making. 3rd Biennial Conference, European Philosophy of Science Association. Athens. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (30 January 2010), “HPS en daarna: Uitdagingen in de integratie van wetenschapsfilosofie en wetenschapsgeschiedenis”. Symposium Relaties tussen wetenschapsfilosofie en wetenschapsgeschiedenis, Nederlandse Vereniging voor Wetenschapsfilosofie en Descartes Centre voor Wetenschapsgeschiedenis en Wetenschapsfilosofie. Utrecht. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (17 June 2010), “Two Brief Histories of Thought Experiments”. Workshop Science without Data? The Role of Thought Experiments in Empirical Investigations. Halifax, Nova Scotia. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (18 June 2010), “Thought Experiments as Simulations: Epistemology and Methodology”. Workshop Science without Data? The Role of Thought Experiments in Empirical Investigations. Halifax, Nova Scotia. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (14 June 2010), “Emotion and Rationality in Science”. Lustrumlezing 2010. Leiden. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (14 April 2010), “What Is the Motivation for Reconstructing ‘Actors’ Categories’ in History of Science?”. 37th Annual Philosophy of Science Conference, Inter-University Centre. Inter-University Centre, Dubrovnik. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (23 May 2009), Purportedly A Priori Methods in Physical Theorizing: A Review. Workshop on Thought Experiments. University of Toronto. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (13 November 2009), The Role of Emotional Judgement in Resolving Methodological Dilemmas in Science. Troisième congrès, Société de philosophie des sciences. Paris. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (27 June 2009), Conceptualizing Contingency in History of Science. Third Bi-Annual Dutch Conference in the History of Science. Woudschoten. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (14 April 2009), What Do Patterns in Empirical Data Tell Us About Structures in the World?. 36th Annual Philosophy of Science Conference, Inter-University Centre. Dubrovnik. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (5 November 2009), Is Beauty a Sign of Truth in Science?. European College of Liberal Arts. Berlin. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (12 January 2008), Esthetische vooruitgang in de wetenschap. Symposium "Comparatief realisme", Nederlandse Vereniging voor Wetenschapsfilosofie. Debatcentrum SPUI25, Amsterdam. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (15 April 2008), The Veracity of Empirical Data. 35th Annual Philosophy of Science Conference. Inter-University Centre, Dubrovnik. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (13 September 2008), What Do Patterns in Empirical Data Tell Us About the Structure of the World?. Conference "Data - Phenomena - Theories: What's the Notion of a Scientific Phenomenon Good For?". Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (24 October 2008), Symmetries and Asymmetries in Science Studies. Conference "Foundations of the Formal Sciences VII". Koninklijke Vlaamse Academie van België voor Wetenschappen en Kunst, Brussel. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (11 March 2008), From Patterns in Empirical Data to Symmetries in the World. Workshop "Symmetry as a Modern Scientific Concept: Historical and Philosophical Perspectives". Lorentz Center, Universiteit Leiden. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (21 August 2008), Scientific Journal Publishing As Costly Signalling. Conference of the Society for Social Studies of Science / European Association for the Study of Science and Technology. Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (7 November 2008), The Ontology of Patterns in Empirical Data. 21st Biennial Meeting, Philosophy of Science Association. Pittsburgh. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (21 June 2007), Contingency in Science: Approaches from Science Studies. Workshop "Contingency in Science: Its Origins and Outcomes", London School of Economics. London. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (10 May 2007), Thought Experiments as Simulations: Epistemology and Methodology. Workshop "Thought Experiments", University of Toronto. Toronto. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (11 October 2007), Thought Experiments as Simulations: Epistemology and Methodology. Conference "Models and Simulations 2", Universiteit van Tilburg. Tilburg. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (16 April 2007), Entities in Dispute: A Realist Rebuttal of the Pessimistic Induction. 34th Annual Philosophy of Science Conference, Inter-University Centre. Dubrovnik. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (19 October 2007), Inference in the Historical Sciences. Onderwijsdagen Theorie en Methode, Onderzoekschool OIKOS. Nunspeet. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (3 May 2007), Emotional Judgement and Rational Warrant in the Resolution of Dilemmas. Conference "Moral Emotions about Risky Technologies", Technische Universiteit Delft. Delft. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (9 November 2007), Six Essential Questions for Any Account of Mathematical Beauty, With Some Answers. Conference "Aesthetics and Mathematics", Universiteit Utrecht. Utrecht. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (25 April 2003). Het station en het museum: netwerken in techniek en cultuur. Delft. [inaugural address].
- McAllister J.W. (23 May 2002), The Virtual Laboratory: Thought Experiments in Seventeenth-Century Mechanics. Conference Kunstkammer, Laboratorium, Bühne: Schauplätze des Wissens im 17. Jahrhundert. Freie Universität, Berlin. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (2 September 2002), Het onderscheid tussen kunst en wetenschap. Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende Kunsten. Den Haag. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (8 April 2002), Publishing in 'International Studies in the Philosophy of Science'. Philosophy of Science Conference. Inter-University Centre, Dubrovnik. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (7 November 2002), Thought Experiments and the Belief in Phenomena. Symposium The Epistemology of Thought Experiments, 18th Biennial Meeting, Philosophy of Science Association. Milwaukee. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (30 May 2002), Het onderscheid tussen kunst en wetenschap. Symposium Kunst en Wetenschap. Universiteit Leiden. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (16 February 2002), Historical and Structural Approaches in the Natural and Human Sciences. Sciences and Arts Debate, Koninklijke Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen. Haarlem. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (25 October 2002), Thought Experiments and the Belief in Phenomena. Colloquium Thought Experiments. Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (24 November 2000), Hoe wetenschapsstudies hun maatschappelijke rol kunnen vergroten. Symposium "De maatschappelijke taak van wetenschapsstudies", Nederlandse Vereniging voor Wetenschapsfilosofie. Utrecht. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (10 April 2000), Universal Regularities and Initial Conditions in Newtonian Physics. 26th Annual Philosophy of Science Course, Inter-University Centre for Postgraduate Study. Kroatië, Dubrovnik. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (22 June 2000), The Amorphousness of the World. Fourth Quadrennial International Fellows Conference (van het Center for Philosophy of Science, Pittsburgh). San Carlos de Bariloche. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (25 January 2000), The Amorphousness of the World. -. University of Pittsburgh. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (22 October 1999), The Beauty of Scientific Theories. Symposium on "Art, Science, and Technology". Universiteit Maastricht. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (9 June 1999), Is Beauty a Sign of Truth in Scientific Theories?. -. Belgie, Brussel, Center Leo Apostel, VU Brussel. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (27 October 1999), Is Beauty a Sign of Truth in Scientific Theories?. -. Department of Philosophy, University of Warwick. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (27 November 1999), Symbols and Transcripts: Two Strategies for Representing the World. Symposium on "Reading the Book of Nature", Nederlandse Vereniging voor Wetenschapsfilosofie. Utrecht. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (9 July 1999), The Amorphousness of the World. Summer Conference, British Society for the Philosophy of Science. Verenigd Koninkrijk, University of Nottingham. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (12 March 1999), The Beauty of Scientific Theories. Conference on the Philosophy of Marx Wartofsky. Verenigde Staten, New York, New School University. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (2 June 1999), The Amorphousness of the World. Symposium on Philosophy of Natural Sciences. Leiden, Lorentz Center, Universiteit Leiden. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (20 August 1999), The Amorphousness of the World. IUHPS 11th International Congress of Logic, Methodology and Philosophy of Science. Polen, Krakow. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (12 April 1999), Inductivism and Rationality in Theory Choice. 25th Annual Philosophy of Science Course. Dubrovnik, Inter-University for Postgraduate Study. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (29 October 1998), Scienza, belezza e verità. Convegno "Mondi Possibili", Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnica Leonardo da Vinci. Milaan. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (27 November 1998), The Amorphousness of the World. "Oneindigheid", Lustrum Symposium Leidse Biologen Club. Leiden. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (25 March 1998), Is Beauty a Sign of Truth in Scientific Theories?. lezing Erasmus Institute for Philosophy and Economics. Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (14 November 1998), Beauty and Revolution in Science. lezing Algemene Nederlandse Vereniging voor Wijsbegeerte. Utrecht. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (8 December 1998), The Amorphousness of the World. Science Colloquium Shell Research and Technology Centre. Amsterdam. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (13 April 1998), The Amorphousness of the World and the Incidence of Values in Science. 24th Annual Philosophy of Science Course, Inter-University Centre. Dubrovnik, Croatia. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (25 March 1997), The Beauty of Scientific Theories. Voordracht Department of Philosophy, University of Toronto. Toronto, Canada. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (27 February 1997), Is Beauty a Sign of Truth in Scientific Theories?. Voordracht Institute for Advanced Study. Princeton, U.S.. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (5 February 1997), Laws of Nature, Natural History, and the Description of the World. Voordracht Institute for Advanced Study. Princeton, U.S.. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (1 November 1996), Inductivism and Rationality in the Reception of Quantum Theory. lezing vakgroep Geschiedenis en Grondslagen van de Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen, UU. Utrecht. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (1 June 1996), Laws of Nature, Natural History, and the Description of the World. Workshop on Tests, Laws and Chances, London School of Economics. London. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (1 April 1996), Laws of Nature, Natural History, and the Description of the World. 22 Annual Conference in Philosophy of Science, Interuniversity Centre. Dubrovnik, Kroatië. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (1 November 1996), Beauty in Natural Science. lezing Philosophische Fakultät, Universität Konstanz. Konstanz. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (1 November 1996), Beauty in Natural Science. Studium Generale. Leiden. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (1 August 1995), Laws of Nature, Natural History, and the Description of the World. 10th IUHPS International Congres of Logic, Methodology and Philosophy of Science. Florence. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (1 May 1995), Laws of Nature, Natural History, and the Description of the World. lezing Department of Philosophy, Stanford University. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (1 March 1995), Laws of Nature, Natural History, and the Description of the World. Workshop "Realism and Rationality in the Natural Sciences", Hoger Instituut voor Wijsbegeerte, KU Leuven. Leuven. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (1 April 1995), The Natural Sciences and the Humanities: Some Reflections on their Interrelations. lezing vakgroep Letteren en Kunst, RU Limburg. Maastricht. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (1 May 1995), The Beauty of Scientific Theories. lezing vakgroep Geschiedenis en Grondslagan van de Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen, Universiteit Utrecht. Utrecht. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (1 January 1995), Absolutism and Relativism. lezing Onderzoek Instituut CNWS. Leiden. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (1 March 1994), Het Newtonianisme. Facultaire lezingenreeks "Een dieper weten: filosofische implicaties van natuurwetenschappelijke theorieën". Leiden. [lecture].
- McAllister J.W. (1 April 1994), The Beauty of Scientific Theories. Hutcheson Tricentenary Conference. Glasgow. [lecture].