John D. Norton

Professor Norton studies the history and philosophy of physics and also the general philosophy of science. He gave the first interpretation of Einstein's "Zurich Notebook," which cataloged the steps of Einstein's discovery of general relativity. He has worked on foundational problems in the theory of relativity and statistical physics, including a long-standing critique of the claimed connection between information and thermodynamic entropy. In general philosophy of science, he has defended an argument view of thought experiments and criticized metaphysical conceptions of causation and possibility. His long-standing interest in evidence in science and inductive inference have led to his two recent books on the material theory of induction. His latest project is a book on a version of empiricism, "small-e empiricism," designed to be well adapted to modern scientific practice. His work seeks to uphold the value of history and philosophy of science. His philosophical work is, wherever possible, illustrated with detailed studies in history of science; and his historical projects are intended in part to serve philosophical ends. His online books Einstein for Everyone https://sites.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/teaching/HPS_0410/chapters/index.html

and Paradox: Puzzles of Chance and Infinity https://sites.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/teaching/paradox/chapters/title.html

are a convenient internet introduction to their topics.

 

 

Modern Cosmology (graduate)

 

Probability (graduate)

 

Empiricism in Science (graduate)

 

Einstein for Everyone (undergraduate)

 

Paradox (undergraduate)

 

 

Past Chair of Department of History and Philosophy of Science and Past Director of Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh

 

Co-founder of philsci-archive.pitt.edu

 

Co-founder of &HPS: Committee on Integrated History and Philosophy of Science

 

Associate Editor, Co-Editor of Studies in History and Philosophy of Science (2001-2003); Associate Editor, Philosophy of Science (1990-94)