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Dr Dean Rickles

MA Sheffield University; PhD University of Leeds
Room 433 Carslaw

+61 2 9351 8552

Dean’s primary area of interest is the history and philosophy of modern physics, particularly quantum gravity and spacetime physics. However, he has a wide range of interests beyond this, including: philosophy of science, philosophy of health and medicine, philosophy of economics and finance, complex systems science, metaphysics, and musicology.

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Current projects

Dean is currently writing a book on the development of quantum gravity for an ARC-funded discovery project on the history of quantum gravity. He is also working on a 'biography' of string theory (for Springer’s Frontiers Collection) as part of this project.

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Grants

  • ARC ARF:
  • "The Development of Quantum Gravity" (2009-2013: $617,500)
  • "USYD Research Fellow Establishment Grant" (2009-2010: $20,000)
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Selected publications

Dean has published on the philosophy of physics, the philosophy of economics, complexity theory, and epidemiology.

  • The Structural Foundations of Quantum Gravity (Co-edited with Steven French and Juha Saatsi). Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2006.
  • Symmetry, Structure, and Spacetime. Philosophy and Foundations of Physics, Volume 3. North Holland: Elsevier, 2007.
  • The Ashgate Companion to Contemporary Philosophy of Physics. Ashgate, 2008.
  • 'Who’s Afraid of Background Independence?' In D. Dieks (ed.), The Ontology of Spacetime II. Elsevier, 2008: 133-152.
  • 'Causality in Complex Interventions'. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy. 2009, 12(1): 77-90.
  • 'Econophysics and Financial Market Complexity'. In J. Collier and C. Hooker (eds.), Handbook of the Philosophy of Science, Vol. 10: Philosophy of Complex Systems. Elsevier (forthcoming).
  • 'Public Health'. In F. Gifford (ed.), Handbook of the Philosophy of Science, Vol. 16: Philosophy of Medicine. Elsevier (forthcoming).
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Areas of teaching and supervision

History and philosophy of physics, history and philosophy of science, philosophy of economics.

Other professional contributions

Dean is the Treasurer of the Australasian Association for the History and Philosophy of Science (AAHPSSS).