Research

Major Scientific Interests: Philosophy of science, models in physics, methods of transfer between disciplines, history of 19th and 20th century physics, comparison of theories, history of philosophy, Immanuel Kant, René Descartes

Margaret C. Morrison was a Canadian theoretician. Her research focused on studies of problems in scientific theory and epistemological problems associated with model formation and simulation. These processes play a central role in natural science research and are also gaining significance in the social and economic sciences and in the humanities.

Margaret C. Morrison’s research focused on studies of problems in scientific theory and epistemological problems associated with model formation and simulation. These processes play a central role in natural science research and are also gaining significance in the social and economic sciences and in the humanities.

Processes for making theories uniform were a special area of interest for Morrison. In addition, she has written papers on how models work in science. In those studies, she investigated how abstract models can help supply concrete knowledge in the material world.

A substantial part of her work on the philosophy of science addressed the role of mathematics for understanding the material world. Morrison investigated the question of how human agents become able to obtain practical information from abstract mathematical models, a question that is significant to economics, politics and all fields based on mathematical models as well as to the philosophy of science.

She has also researched how assumptions in early 20th-century statistical methodology influenced the compatibility of Darwin’s natural selection and Mendel’s genetics.

In addition to these systematic research specialisations, Morrison worked on the history of philosophy; her papers include studies of René Descartes and Immanuel Kant.

Career

• 1998-2019 Professor of Philosophy, University of Toronto, Canada
• since 1991 Research Affiliate, Centre for Philosophy of  Science, London School of Economics, UK
• 1987-1989 Assistant Professor of Philosophy, University of Minnesota, USA
• 1987-1988 Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Stanford University, USA
• 1987 Ph.D., Philosophy, University of Western Ontario, Canada
• 1982 M.A., Philosophy, University of Western Ontario, Canada
• 1981 B.A., Philosophy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
• 1976-1981 Research Assistant, Dept. of Biophysics, Dalhousie University, Canada

Functions

• Member, Editorial Board: Philosophy of Science, International Studies in the Philosophy of Science, Physics in Perspective
• Member, Board of Governors, Philosophy of Science Association

Honours and Memberships

• 2014 Fellow, Institute of Advanced Study (IAS), Durham University, USA
• since 2003 Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
• 1995-1996 Fellow, Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin
• 1993-2003 Research Fellow, Centre for the Philosophy of the Natural and Social Sciences, London School of Economics, UK
• 1995 British Academy Visiting Professor Fellowship, London School of Economics, UK
• 1994 and 1998 Dean's Excellence Award, University of Toronto, Canada
• 1991 University of Toronto Research Grant
• 1990-1991 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Research Time Stipend
• 1989 Connaught Faculty Fellowship, University of Toronto, Canada
• 1989 Graduate Faculty Fellowship, University of Minnesota, USA