Episode 93: Alan Love

On Episode 93, Nick chats with Alan Love, Distinguished McKnight University Professor of Philosophy and Winton Chair in the Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota, as well as Director of the Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science, about assembling philosopher, theoretician, and experimentalist research teams for the $14M Templeton Foundation grant project, "Agency, Directionality, and Function,” his work in evolutionary developmental biology, the forthcoming release of new perspectives on the Human Genome Project, and organizing the upcoming conference, “Philosophy of Science: Past, Present, and Future.” Timestamps: (0:00) - Introduction (2:30) - Alan’s life in Minnesota and current projects (10:50) - Upcoming conference in October : Philosophy of Science: Past, Present, and Future (17:20) - Alan’s life growing up in San Diego (21:33) - Early philosophical questions (23:15) - University life (27:42) - Starting to consider philosophy as a profession (32:10) - Formal Master’s degree vs. lab time (34:20) - Favorite research projects over the years (37:55) - Side interests (philosophical methodology) (42:41) - The relationship between philosophical methodology and philosophy of science (45:20) - Upcoming projects that Alan is currently most excited about (47:00) - Collaborating with scientists (52:00) - Upcoming release of projects (Human genome project) (55:11) - The greatest challenge that philosophy of science faces today, and ways to move forward