Sandra Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Sandra D. Mitchell is an American philosopher
and historian of ideas
and professor of the History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh
. Her research focuses on the philosophies of biology
and the social sciences
, and the connection between them.
She has worked at the Ohio State University (1985-1989) and University of California, San Diego
(1989-1999), before joining the Department of History and Philosophy of Science in 2000. She has been a fellow at the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, at the University of Bielefeld (1991-1992) ,the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies
in Cologne
(2004-2005), the Institute for Advanced Study, Berlin
(1993-1994), and the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (2010).
Mitchell received a B.A. in philosophy from Pitzer College
(1973), a M.Sc. in Logic, Philosophy and Scientific Method from the London School of Economics
(1975), and a Ph.D. in History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Pittsburgh (1987).
In her more recent articles, she has argued that the search for a unified, reductionist Theory of Everything
is futile. Instead, she suggests that the sciences focus on studying the complex correlations between elements and their emergent effects (self-organization
) that, as she argues, a strictly reductionist approach is not able to adequately address.
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and historian of ideas
History of ideas
The history of ideas is a field of research in history that deals with the expression, preservation, and change of human ideas over time. The history of ideas is a sister-discipline to, or a particular approach within, intellectual history...
and professor of the History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
. Her research focuses on the philosophies of biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
and the social sciences
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
, and the connection between them.
She has worked at the Ohio State University (1985-1989) and University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
(1989-1999), before joining the Department of History and Philosophy of Science in 2000. She has been a fellow at the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, at the University of Bielefeld (1991-1992) ,the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies
Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies
The Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies is a German social-science research institute within the Max Planck Society located in Cologne. Established in 1985, it was initially headed by sociologist Renate Mayntz , followed by political scientist Fritz W...
in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
(2004-2005), the Institute for Advanced Study, Berlin
Institute for Advanced Study, Berlin
The Institute for Advanced Study in Berlin in an interdisciplinary institute created 1981 in Berlin-Grunewald for studies in natural, social sciences for various research projects. It is a member of the group Some Institutes for Advanced Study....
(1993-1994), and the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (2010).
Mitchell received a B.A. in philosophy from Pitzer College
Pitzer College
Pitzer College is a private residential liberal arts college located in Claremont, California, a college town approximately east of downtown Los Angeles. Pitzer College is one of the Claremont Colleges....
(1973), a M.Sc. in Logic, Philosophy and Scientific Method from the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
(1975), and a Ph.D. in History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Pittsburgh (1987).
In her more recent articles, she has argued that the search for a unified, reductionist Theory of Everything
Theory of everything
A theory of everything is a putative theory of theoretical physics that fully explains and links together all known physical phenomena, and predicts the outcome of any experiment that could be carried out in principle....
is futile. Instead, she suggests that the sciences focus on studying the complex correlations between elements and their emergent effects (self-organization
Self-organization
Self-organization is the process where a structure or pattern appears in a system without a central authority or external element imposing it through planning...
) that, as she argues, a strictly reductionist approach is not able to adequately address.
See also
- American philosophyAmerican philosophyAmerican philosophy is the philosophical activity or output of Americans, both within the United States and abroad. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy notes that while American philosophy lacks a "core of defining features, American Philosophy can nevertheless be seen as both reflecting and...
- Sokal affairSokal AffairThe Sokal affair, also known as the Sokal hoax, was a publishing hoax perpetrated by Alan Sokal, a physics professor at New York University. In 1996, Sokal submitted an article to Social Text, an academic journal of postmodern cultural studies...
- Fritjof CapraFritjof CapraFritjof Capra is an Austrian-born American physicist. He is a founding director of the Center for Ecoliteracy in Berkeley, California, and is on the faculty of Schumacher College....
- List of American philosophers