Michael R Strevens

Michael R Strevens is a Professor of Philosophy at New York University's Department of Philosophy within the College of Arts & Science. He holds a Ph.D. from Rutgers University and specializes in philosophy of science, cognitive science applications to philosophy, and epistemology. His research explores scientific explanation, probability, complex systems, and the social structure of science, emphasizing how irrational processes drive scientific progress.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Philosophy, Rutgers University

Research Interests:

• Philosophy of Science (explanation, probability, complex systems)
• Cognitive Science (psychology of concepts, philosophical methodology)
• Social Structure of Science (priority rules, scientific communication)
• Epistemology (confirmation theory, empirical testing)

Publications Overview: His major works include The Knowledge Machine (2020), which argues that science's success stems from irrational institutional mechanisms, and Thinking Off Your Feet (2019), defending armchair philosophy via empirical psychology. Recent papers address instance confirmation's role in science and permissible idealizations in predictive models. His work bridges abstract philosophical analysis with empirical findings from cognitive science.

Professional Contributions: Strevens advises on NYU's philosophy curriculum and contributes to interdisciplinary discussions on science's epistemic foundations. He maintains an active research program exploring how social norms influence scientific outcomes and the cognitive processes underlying philosophical reasoning.