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Associate Professor Dean Rickles

MA Sheffield University; PhD University of Leeds
Room 433 Carslaw

+61 2 9351 8552

Dean’s primary research focus is the history and philosophy of modern physics, particularly quantum gravity and spacetime physics, However, he also has strong interests in financial economics, public health and musicology.

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Current projects

Dean is currently working on a book on the early history of quantum gravity for Oxford University Press: Covered in Deep Mist. The Development of Quantum Gravity, 1916-1956. He is also working on a book on the early history of string theory, prior to 1995, for Springer's Frontier Collection: A Biography of String Theory: From Dual Models to M-Theory.

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Grants

  • John Templeton Foundation (2012-2015: US$1,507,753.25). New Agendas for the Study of Time: Connecting the Disciplines [co-investigators: Huw Price, Alex Holcombe, and Kristie Miller].
  • ARC Australian Research Fellowship (2009 - 13: $617500): The Development of Quantum Gravity.
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Selected publications

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

Books

  • The Structural Foundations of Quantum Gravity (eds. D. Rickles, S. French & J. Saatsi). Oxford University Press, USA, 2006.
  • Symmetry, Structure and Spacetime. Series on Foundations and Philosophy of Physics, Volume 3. Elsevier, Holland, 2008.
  • The Ashgate Companion to Contemporary Philosophy of Physics. Ashgate, Aldershot, 2008.
  • The Role of Gravitation in Physics: Report from the 1957 Chapel Hill Conference (Co-edited with Cecile DeWitt). Max Planck Research Library for the History and Development of Knowledge, 2011.
  • Structural Realism: Structure, Object, and Causality. (Co-edited with Elaine Landry). The University of Western Ontario Series in Philosophy of Science, Volume 77. Springer, 2012.
  • A Biography of String Theory: From Dual Models to M-theory. Springer, Frontiers Collection (to appear, 2013).
  • Covered in Deep Mist: The Development of Quantum Gravity, 1916-1956. Oxford University Press (to appear, 2014).
  • A Beginner's Guide to the Philosophy of Physics. Continuum, Cambridge (to appear, 2014).

Recent Publications

* "AdS/CFT Duality and the Emergence of Spacetime." Forthcoming in special issue of Studies in the History and Philosophy of Modern Physics on The Emergence of Spacetime in Quantum Gravity.

* “Pourparlers for Quantum Gravity: Some Early Sources of Quantum Gravity Research.” Forthcoming in S. Katzir (ed.), Studies in History and Philosophy of Quantum Physics. Springer.

* "Time, Observables, and Structure." In E. Landry and D. Rickles (eds.), Structural Realism: Structure, Object, and Causality (pp. 135-145). The University of Western Ontario Series in Philosophy of Science, Volume 77. Springer, 2011.

* "Mirror Symmetry and Other Miracles in Superstring Theory." Foundations of Physics. Online First: DOI: 10.1007/210701-010-9504-5. [Invited contribution to a special issue on "Forty Years of String Theory: Reflecting on the Foundations" (edited by G. 't Hooft, E. Verlinde, D. Dieks and S. de Haro).]

* "Quantum Gravity Meets & HPS." In S. Mauskopf and T. Schmaltz (eds.), Integrating History and Philosophy of Science: Problems and Prospects (pp. 162-199). Boston Studies in Philosophy of Science, Volume 263. Springer, 2011.

* "Public Health." In F. Gifford (ed.), Handbook of the Philosophy of Science, Vol. 16: Philosophy of Medicine (pp. 523-572). Elsevier, 2011.

* "Econophysics and Financial Market Complexity." In C. Hooker (eds), Handbook of the Philosophy of Science, Vol. 10: Philosophy of Complex Systems (pp. 527-561). Elsevier, 2011.

* "A Philosopher Looks at String Dualities." In Studies in the History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 42(1) (2011): 54-67.

* "The Chapel Hill Conference in Context." In C. DeWitt and D. Rickles (eds., The Role of Gravitation in Physics: Report from the 1957 Chapel Hill Conference (pp. 7-21). Max Planck Research Library for the History and Development of Knowledge, Volume 5, 2011.

* "Quantum Gravity." Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy (co-authored with Steven Weinstein).

Areas of teaching and supervision

History and philosophy of modern physics.

Other professional contributions

* Dean is the President of the Australasian Association for the History and Philosophy of Science (AAHPSSS).
* Associate Editor of Philosophy in Review