NICHOLAS HUGGETT

Department of Philosophy, M/C 267
1413 University Hall
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL 60607

tel: (312) 413-5839
fax: (312) 413-2093
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Nick Huggett's Home Page

Nick Huggett

My work is in the philosophy of physics and science. I am completing a book on the metaphysics of space, True Motion: Part I discusses debates concerning the nature of motion from the scientific revolution, and how they relate to different conceptions of space; Part II proposes a Humean approach to a relational account of space; Part III extends the approach to the issue of handedness. A rough précis of Part I can be found in my contribution (with Carl Hoefer) to the online Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 'Absolute and Relational Theories of Space and Motion'. Parts II and III are major extensions of 'The Regularity Account of Relational Spacetime' (Mind, 2006) and 'Reflections on Parity Non-Conservation' (Philosophy of Science, 2000).

I also work on the foundations of quantum mechanics. (a) My dissertation concerned quantum field theory, and I wrote several papers with my much-missed advisor, Robert Weingard. More recently I wrote 'Philosophical Foundations of Quantum Field Theory' for the 50 year anniversary issue of the British Journal for the Philosophy of Science (reprinted in Philosophy of Science Today, OUP, 2003) and 'Renormalization and the Disunity of Science' (in The Ontological Aspects of Quantum Field Theory, World Scientific, 2002). (b) I work on identical particles, often with colleagues in the physics department at UIC. I am completing an article for the forthcoming Quantum Mechanics Compendium with Tom Imbo, and have been developing work first published in 'Quarticles and the Identity of Indiscernibility' (in Symmetries in Physics, CUP, 2003). My interests in space and quantum mechanics come together in work on quantum theories of gravity: with Craig Callender I edited Physics Meets Philosophy at the Planck Scale (CUP, 2001) and wrote 'Why Quantize Gravity (or any Other Field)?' (Philosophy of Science, 2001).

Some other things that you might like to know: (a) I'm also putting the final touches to a popular book on the philosophy of physics – What Physics Can Teach Philosophy (and vice versa) – aiming to explain to a lay audience some key concepts and (especially) how physics and philosophy can fruitfully interact. (For some other thoughts on this topic see my contribution to the forthcoming Foundations of Philosophy and Physics.) (b) I organize talks, conferences and seminars in philosophy of physics at UIC: we've had Bob Wald, Anthony Leggett, Jeremy Butterfield and Martin Thompson-Jones for instance (and a couple of years ago a crop of brand new PhDs). (c) I'll be teaching about the philosophy of time this Fall (2007) and I plan to develop my research interests in this field.

Further information about the projects discussed here and more can be found on my web site.