About My Research

My research is broadly directed toward philosophy of science, with an emphasis on two disparate areas: the science of cybersecurity and the philosophy of cosmology. My dissertation work focuses on the philosophical aspects of multiverse cosmology. I seek to understand the limit of our reasoning with respect to our place in the cosmos. The multiverse hypothesis most forcefully pushes, and perhaps exceeds, the limits of our understanding by postulating inherently inaccessible portions of the cosmos. My dissertation demonstrates that currently-offered argumentation for the existence of the multiverse is philosophically groundless. Nonetheless, I intend to explore the possibilities further with an open mind, as outlined in what follows.

Among the important results of my doctoral research is the synthesis of a multiverse historical tradition. The multiverse hypothesis has been postulated with regularity, under different names, since the ancient era. Nonetheless, from the perspective of the contemporary philosophy of science literature, the subject very much is a “new” one: nearly every philosophical angle—and there are many—regarding the multiverse hypothesis is in a nascent state of development. Thus, this area of research offers me great opportunity for meaningful, novel contributions to a budding discipline. Established paths in the philosophy of science are given new life in this resurgent field, making it ideal for fresh connections to familiar topics such as inductive inference and scientific explanation. For example, Hume’s classic problem of induction exhibits novel characteristics when applied to multiverse cosmological theories.

Perhaps the chief virtue that draws me to this subject is its intersection with so many other fields of inquiry. It thus offers ample opportunity for me to pursue those interests via collaboration with researchers in related areas of philosophy and the sciences. For example, there are deeply challenging formal problems rooted in epistemology, probability theory, cosmological physics, and quantum physics that (separately) present the chance to work with specialists in those fields. Doing so will bring new perspectives—and very likely new problems to solve—regarding the speculation that multiple universes exist.

A separate branch of research involves the development of a science of cybersecurity. Cybersecurity research has become extremely important for protecting the increasingly networked systems that dominate society, yet very little attention has been paid to the foundational underpinnings of such research. My recent focus has been on experimentation in computing: claims of "successful experimental results" often fail to meet the entrenched standards expected in established sciences. A science of cybersecurity would provide the necessary grounding for research in the field, which would ensure that its experimentation (for example) could be trusted and built upon. By applying my expertise in philosophy of science to this budding discipline, I hope to contribute to generate progress toward a true science of cybersecurity.

I am continuing to update the historical compendium of multiverse theorists that began as three of my dissertation chapters. That effort is partly historical research and partly philosophical: it is historical due to the temporal reach of such thought, and it is philosophical because the argumentation offered by the thinkers in the tradition provides the guide for framing contemporary reasoning.

In addition to the two main branches of research discussed above, I have been developing a solution to the Sleeping Beauty problem, which is one of many puzzles in probability theory designed to test its application to one’s assignment of credence. Separately, I have begun exploring the philosophical aspects of experimentation in the technology sciences. An extensive amount of published literature purports to convey “scientific experimental results.” However, from the perspective of a philosopher of science, the results appear to be neither scientific nor experimental, making this an intriguing research opportunity.

My interest in the history of science has contributed to two separate projects. One, in which I recreated one of Galileo’s experiments that hitherto had not been precisely replicated, is currently at the “revise and resubmit” stage for publication. The second, entitled “The Material Intricacies of Coulomb’s 1785 Torsion Balance Experiment,” is a collaborative effort with a colleague that is currently under review for publication. Through historically faithful experimental recreation, we examine the sensitive nature of Coulomb’s famous experiment with respect to its material composition.

Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not mention teaching as a part of my research. Though the two are traditionally separated, I very much believe that one learns a tremendous amount when required to assimilate material in a form that can be conveyed clearly to others. Accordingly, I have put heavy emphasis on seeking opportunities to hone my teaching craft throughout my career. The result is the ability to teach a wide range of philosophical subjects, from political philosophy and logic to ethics and philosophy of science. Teaching sparks crucial insights within my research, as well. For example, while creating the Magic, Medicine, and Science course, I discovered several connections between the philosophical argumentation utilized by ancient philosophers and by those of the Renaissance era in cosmological theorizing. These discoveries eventually blossomed into important components of my dissertation work. Recently, I have been developing a graduate course focused on shaping the parameters of a science of cybersecurity, which will (hopefully) generate the same sort of impetus for my research in that area.