Dr John Forge

BA Cornell, Dip. Ed. McGill, MA, Ph.D. London


John Forge, having happily retired from formal university life, is now an honourary associate in HPS. Forge does some casual teaching in HPS and (far from casual) research in science and ethics.

Current Projects

Forge has a general theory about science and responsibility – see below. His current project is to work out the conditions under which it is acceptable for scientists to engage in weapons/war research.

Selected Publications

Forge’s theory about science and responsibility is due to be published in a book of that title by Pittsburgh University Press. His "What are the Moral Limits of Weapons Research" is due in the Winter 2006 number of Ethics in the Contemporary World which builds on "The Morality of Weapons Research", Science and Engineering Ethics, 10, July 2004.

In the past Forge has published, and occasionally still does publish, work in the philosophy of science. His most recent work is "Sharp and Blunt Values", Journal of Philosophy Of Education, 12, 2003. His account of physical science, which is based on ontology of quantity and laws of nature, is given in his Explanation, Quantity and Law. Ashgate: Aldershot, 1999.

Other Professional Contributions

Forge is an active member of the fellowship of philosophers of science based in Pittsburgh. He was editor of Metascience, and has refereed and served on editorial boards.