Daniel R Athearn: Difference between revisions
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| name = Daniel R. Athearn | | name = Daniel R. Athearn | ||
| alt = Daniel R. Athearn | | alt = Daniel R. Athearn | ||
| birth_date = {{birth | | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1951}} | ||
| fields = [[ | | fields = [[Philosophy of physics]], [[Natural philosophy]] | ||
| residence = Eugene, OR, United States | | residence = Eugene, OR, United States | ||
| nationality = USA | | nationality = USA | ||
| alma_mater = University of Oregon | |||
| known_for = [[physical explanation sans classical-materialist models]], [[Whitehead's ideas on nature and physics]] | | known_for = [[physical explanation sans classical-materialist models]], [[Whitehead's ideas on nature and physics]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Daniel R. Athearn''' (born 1951) is an American philosopher of physics and natural philosopher known for his work on causal explanation in physical science. He is the author of ''Scientific Nihilism: On the Loss and Recovery of Physical Explanation'' (1994) and ''Fruits of Time: Nature and the Unfolding of Difference'' (2004). He argues that theoretical physics, while a powerful body of empirical knowledge, does not explain itself, and he advocates a rehabilitation of natural philosophy drawing in part on the process thought of [[Alfred North Whitehead]]. | |||
==Biography== | |||
Athearn earned a PhD in philosophy from the University of Oregon in 1989. He did not formally study physics, concentrating instead on the lay-accessible and philosophical aspects of the subject. He lives in Eugene, Oregon, and supports himself by playing classical violin in orchestras. | |||
His first book, ''Scientific Nihilism: On the Loss and Recovery of Physical Explanation'', appeared in 1994. It was followed by articles in ''Process Studies'' and ''Physics Essays'', and by a second book, ''Fruits of Time: Nature and the Unfolding of Difference'', in 2004. He has also worked on further projects, including a book concerned with refuting the doctrine of Creation. | |||
==Work== | |||
Athearn characterizes "scientific nihilism" as the widespread view that the prospects for genuine understanding in scientific knowledge are distinctly negative, a view he regards as especially characteristic of the philosophy of science. In ''Scientific Nihilism'' (State University of New York Press, 1994) he argues that the breakoff of narrative causal explanation in physics, though remarkable, is no basis for a negative view of scientific knowledge. He contends that radiation and field phenomena, including many of their most enigmatic features, remain amenable to causal explanation, and he rejects a clean bifurcation of philosophy and natural science in favor of a constructive rehabilitation of natural philosophy. | |||
In ''Fruits of Time: Nature and the Unfolding of Difference'' (2004) he develops the view that physics is destined to enter a new era marked by an enlarged conception of physical knowledge. Much of his thought engages the ideas of [[Alfred North Whitehead]] on nature and physics, and he has written on Whitehead as a natural philosopher and on an ontological approach to explaining light. | |||
'''Articles:''' | '''Articles:''' | ||
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* 1994 - "[[Scientific Nihilism: On the Loss and Recovery of Physical Explanation]]" ([http://www.amazon.com/Scientific-Nihilism-Recovery-Explanation-Philosophy/dp/0791418073/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1217875178&sr=11-1 Read in full]) | * 1994 - "[[Scientific Nihilism: On the Loss and Recovery of Physical Explanation]]" ([http://www.amazon.com/Scientific-Nihilism-Recovery-Explanation-Philosophy/dp/0791418073/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1217875178&sr=11-1 Read in full]) | ||
[[Category:Scientist]] | ==External links== | ||
* [https://archive.org/details/scientificnihili0000athe ''Scientific Nihilism''] at the Internet Archive | |||
* [https://www.universal-publishers.com/book.php?method=ISBN&book=1581125658 ''Fruits of Time''] at Universal Publishers | |||
[[Category:Scientist|Athearn Daniel]] | |||
[[Category:Worldwide List of Dissident Scientists]] | |||
Latest revision as of 16:29, 20 July 2026
Daniel R. Athearn | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1951 (age 74–75) |
| Residence | Eugene, OR, United States |
| Nationality | USA |
| Alma mater | University of Oregon |
| Known for | physical explanation sans classical-materialist models, Whitehead's ideas on nature and physics |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Philosophy of physics, Natural philosophy |
Daniel R. Athearn (born 1951) is an American philosopher of physics and natural philosopher known for his work on causal explanation in physical science. He is the author of Scientific Nihilism: On the Loss and Recovery of Physical Explanation (1994) and Fruits of Time: Nature and the Unfolding of Difference (2004). He argues that theoretical physics, while a powerful body of empirical knowledge, does not explain itself, and he advocates a rehabilitation of natural philosophy drawing in part on the process thought of Alfred North Whitehead.
Biography
Athearn earned a PhD in philosophy from the University of Oregon in 1989. He did not formally study physics, concentrating instead on the lay-accessible and philosophical aspects of the subject. He lives in Eugene, Oregon, and supports himself by playing classical violin in orchestras.
His first book, Scientific Nihilism: On the Loss and Recovery of Physical Explanation, appeared in 1994. It was followed by articles in Process Studies and Physics Essays, and by a second book, Fruits of Time: Nature and the Unfolding of Difference, in 2004. He has also worked on further projects, including a book concerned with refuting the doctrine of Creation.
Work
Athearn characterizes "scientific nihilism" as the widespread view that the prospects for genuine understanding in scientific knowledge are distinctly negative, a view he regards as especially characteristic of the philosophy of science. In Scientific Nihilism (State University of New York Press, 1994) he argues that the breakoff of narrative causal explanation in physics, though remarkable, is no basis for a negative view of scientific knowledge. He contends that radiation and field phenomena, including many of their most enigmatic features, remain amenable to causal explanation, and he rejects a clean bifurcation of philosophy and natural science in favor of a constructive rehabilitation of natural philosophy.
In Fruits of Time: Nature and the Unfolding of Difference (2004) he develops the view that physics is destined to enter a new era marked by an enlarged conception of physical knowledge. Much of his thought engages the ideas of Alfred North Whitehead on nature and physics, and he has written on Whitehead as a natural philosopher and on an ontological approach to explaining light.
Articles:
- "Whitehead as Natural Philosopher: Anachronism or Visionsary?" Process Studies, V26, N3-4 (June 1998).
- "Toward an Ontological Explanation of Light," Process Studies, V34, N1 (June 2005).
Abstracts
- 2002 - "Post-Classical Physical Ontology" (Read in full)
Books
- 2003 - "Fruits of Time: Nature and the Unfolding of Difference" (Read in full)
- 1994 - "Scientific Nihilism: On the Loss and Recovery of Physical Explanation" (Read in full)
External links
- Scientific Nihilism at the Internet Archive
- Fruits of Time at Universal Publishers