My Question: What is the world made of, and how do we fit into it?
That's the "big question" driving me forward. You might think it's the task of physics to answer such questions. But scientific theories do not wear their ontologies on their sleeves, nor do they explain how scientific inquiry is possible in the first place. I am seeking an account of "how things in the broadest possible sense of the term hang together in the broadest possible sense of the term"; a vision of reality which is both informed by science and includes the scientist. Without science, the philosopher seeking to know the nature of reality can drift into fruitless speculation. Without philosophy, the scientist focussing on a small part of reality can lose sight of the whole and how they fit into it. Some facts are written across reality in letters too large for microscopes to see. That's why I pursue science and philosophy.
I'm William Simpson; a philosopher and scientist. I was born in Lincoln, a cathedral city in England, but now live in Scotland (or wherever my work happens to take me). I have a doctorate in philosophy from Cambridge, in which I put forward an ontology for quantum mechanics inspired by Aristotle's metaphysics, and I have a doctorate in physics from St Andrews, in which I studied the behaviour of sticky quantum mechanical forces. When I'm not philosophising about Life, the Universe and Everything, you may find me walking in the Highlands, or sketching in the Scottish Borders, or reading novels (maybe trying to write one too, only it's difficult to find the time...).
My Journey From Physics to Philosophy
So far, during the course of my university career in Philosophy and Physics, I've held academic appointments in the UK, the United States, Europe and the Middle East. I've been engaged primarily in "blue skies research", moving from studying quantum forces to engaging the metaphysics of quantum theory, and thence to the philosophy of mind. Here's a brief summary of my journey through academia so far. (You can find a copy of my CV here.)
2005-14: Hons. Degree & Doctorate at St Andrews
From 2005-2010, I pursued an MPhys in Theoretical Physics & Mathematics at the University of St Andrews, graduating with first class honours.
In 2009, I was a Visiting Student in the MSU Solar Physics Group at Montana State University engaged in research on Solar Flares.
From 2010-2014, I pursued a doctorate in Physics at St Andrews, under the supervision of Ulf Leonhardt. My research was focussed on exposing a 'divergence problem' in Lifshitz' theory of quantum fluctuation forces, and on using the theory of 'transformation optics' to circumvent this problem in special cases. I was supported by a full doctoral 'SUPA Prize' scholarship from the Scottish Universities Physics Alliance. My thesis was published by Springer.
In 2012, I was a Visiting Student at the University of Trento under the supervision of Lev Pitaevskii (who worked with Landau and Lifschitz).
In 2012, I was the leading organiser of the first international philosophy & physics conference at St Andrews: "A Brief Look at the Big Picture."
My doctoral work was awarded the Springer Thesis Prize.
2012-14: Visiting Scholar and Postdoctoral Fellow at The Weizmann Institute of Science
From 2012-2014, I was a Visiting Scholar and then a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Complex Systems at the Weizmann Institute of Science, where I continued to pursue my research on quantum fluctuation forces.
I co-edited and co-authored a textbook on quantum fluctuation forces during this period with the physicist Ulf Leonhardt.
In 2013, I organised the “Casimir forces” special session at the PIERS 2013 international conference in Stockholm, Sweden.
2015-19: Masters & Doctorate at Cambridge
From 2015-2016, I read for the MPhil in History and Philosophy of Science in HPS at the University of Cambridge, working under the supervision of Jeremy Butterfield, Tim Crane, Hasok Chang, and other philosophers.
From 2016-2019, I pursued a doctorate in philosophy in the Faculty of Philosophy at Cambridge, under the supervision of the philosopher of science Hasok Chang and the medieval philosopher John Marenbon. My thesis was entitled "What's the matter? Toward a neo-Aristotliean Ontology of Nature", and my research was focussed on applying the metaphysics of powers and hylomorphism to quantum theory. I was supported by a full College scholarship at Peterhouse, Cambridge.
I organised and co-edited the volume, "Neo-Aristotelian Perspectives on Contemporary Science" (with the philosophers Robert Koons and Nicholas Teh).
My doctoral thesis was honoured with an Expanded Reason Award by The Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation and UFV Madrid.
2019-22: Junior Research Fellow at Cambridge
From 2019-2022, I was a Research Associate in the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge under the supervision of Andrew Davison, contributing to the international project, 'God and the Book of Nature' (directed by Mark Harris). I also held College affiliations during this period.
From 2019-20, I was a Postdoctoral Affiliate of Trinity College, Cambridge, and from 2020-2022, I was a Junior Research Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge.
During this period, I put forward the theory of Cosmic Hylomorphism, which conceives the cosmos as a 'hylomorphic unity' of matter and form, providing an ontology for quantum theory that explains entanglement.
I organised and co-edited the volume, "Neo-Aristotelian Metaphysics and the Theology of Nature" (with the philosophers Robert Koons and James Orr).
In 2022, I co-organised the international workshop, 'Nature's goals', based at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.
In 2021, I was awarded the Cardinal Mercier Prize in Philosophy from the ISP of UCLouvain and the HIW of KU Leuven.
2022-24: Research Fellow at UT Austin & Visiting Fellow at Oxford
From 2022-24, I was a Research Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin, in the Department of Philosophy and the School of Civic Leadership, where I continued to develop the theory of Cosmic Hylomorphism and to work on the application of ancient philosophical ideas to contemporary physical theories. For much of this period, I also held visiting appointments at Oxford.
In 2023, I was a Visiting Fellow at the St Cross Centre for History and Philosophy of Physics at the University of Oxford, where I delivered the seminar, 'Why Middle-Sized Matters: The Limits of Quantum Mechanics'.
From 2023-24, I was a Visiting Scholar in the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Oxford, and an Associate Member of Oriel College, Oxford, where I chaired the graduate/staff seminar series in philosophy.
In 2024, I was the leading organiser of the international conference, 'Why Middle-Sized Matters to Science, Theology and Metaphysics', which was based at All Souls College, Oxford, and at St Cross College, Oxford.
2024: Assistant Professor at Durham & Fellow of Oxford
Since 2024, I've been an Assistant Professor (Research) in the Department of Philosophy at Durham University. I am pursuing a project called "Minding your matter", under the mentorship of Philip Goff and supported by an Early Career Leverhulme Fellowship. My current research is focussed on developing a hylomorphic approach to cosmopsychism (cosmointentionalism), informed by the quantum theory of matter. (It extends my theory of Cosmic Hylomorphism, applying it to the mind-body problem.) I've also become a Fellow of Blackfriars Hall at the University of Oxford, in view of my interests in ancient and medieval philosophy. The latter is an honorary position.
