Research

Most of my work is in the philosophy of science and social and political philosophy. I often draw on formal and experimental tools from the biological and social sciences.

In political philosophy I have been primarily interested in contractarianism and have written on classic theorists such as Locke and Hobbes as well as more contemporary thinkers such as Rawls and Gauthier. I am also interested in better understanding the nature and dynamics of social and moral norms and conventions, with an eye toward uncovering how norms can systematically disadvantage minorities.

My work in social epistemology focuses on how the social structure of science makes for better or worse scientific inquiry. I am particularly interested in exploring the effect industry funding has on science.

In the philosophy of biology I have focused on the theoretical underpinnings of the handicap principle and have explored alternative means of grounding honest communication. I am also interested in inclusive fitness and the relationship between rationality and evolution.