Curriculum Vitae - Joshua.D.Norton

Curriculum Vitae
Joshua D. Norton
[email protected]
www. foundgroundless.com
(last updated 12/28/14)
EDUCATION
University of California, San Diego
B.A. Pure Mathematics, June 2006
University of Illinois at Chicago
M.S. Physics, 2014
University of Illinois at Chicago
Ph.D. (Dissertation: Quantum Ontology, ABD spring 2015)
Supervised by Nick Huggett
AOS
AOC
Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Physics
Logic, Epistemology, Philosophy of Religion
HONORS
UIC, Provost Award (Competitive travel award, 2009)
UIC, Invited Participant, Geneva Summer School: Philosophy of Physics (2009)
UIC, Ruth Barcan Marcus award (Outstanding member of the graduate program, 2013)
UIC, Chancellor’s award (Competitive interdisciplinary project award 2014 and 2015)
UIC, Dean’s Scholar award (Dissertation fellowship 2014-2015)
PUBLICATIONS
(1) “Weak Discernibility for Quanta, The Right Way,”
in British Journal for the Philosophy of Science (2013), with Nick Huggett.
(2) “Weak Discernibility and Relations Between Quanta,”
in Philosophy of Science, forthcoming, (2015)
TALKS
(1) “Time Travel,” at the Vicious Circle, UIC (2013)
(2) “Weak Discernibility and Relations Between Quanta,” at the PSA (2014)
(3) ‘’No Time for Problems” at Beyond Spacetime II (March, 2015)
CURRENT
PROJECTS
TEACHING
EXPERIENCE
(1) “The Hole Argument Against Everything”
(2) “Loop Quantum Ontology: abstract physical objects”
(3) “Loop Quantum Ontology: emerging time and local geometry”
UIC, Intro to Logic, Primary instructor 3 semesters, T.A. 5 semesters.
UIC, Intro to Philosophy, Primary instructor 2 semesters, T.A. 1 semester.
UIC, Intro to Philosophy of Science, co-instructed 1 semester.
UIC, Intermediate Philosophy of Science, Primary instructor 2 semesters.
UIC, Advanced Logic, Primary instructor 2 semesters
UIC, Ethics and the Law, Primary instructor 1 semester.
PROFESSIONAL
MEMBERSHIPS
PROFESSIONAL
ACTIVITIES
BOOK
REVIEWS
Philosophy of Science Association 2008-current
Chicagoland Philosophy of Physics Colloquia 2008-current
American Philosophical Association 2013-current
Referee: Foundations Of Physics (2014-current)
(1) Rickles, Dean (ed.) The Ashgate Companion to Contemporary Philosophy of Physics,
Heythrop Journal 52 (2):304-305 (2011)
Shorter Dissertation Abstract
Quantum Ontology
In “Quantum Ontology” I explore the ontological status of various quantum systems. The dissertation
addresses the status of: entangled systems in standard quantum mechanics and quantum-space-time
in loop quantum gravity (LQG). With respect to entangled systems, I argue that we are not justified in
predicating relational properties of them; in particular, I argue that we are not justified in claiming that
particles in the singlet state of spin have opposite spin. This is important for philosophers since Leibniz’s principle of the identity of indiscernibles comes under attack in the presence of such quantum systems. In the context of loop quantum gravity, I provide a physical interpretation of the mathematics
which avoids the inconsistencies present in the received account. Two surprising benefits of this
project are that the “problem of time” dissolves and the theory of LQG is seen to be committed to the
existence of abstract physical objects. With regard to the ontological commitments of LQG, the usual
criteria for being an abstract object fail: there are physical systems which are neither in space-time nor
are causal. (See below for the Longer Dissertation Abstract).

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