Demarcation Problem Professors and Supervisors

Fred KeijzerView profile

Associate Professor

University of GroningenNetherlands

Dr. Fred Keijzer is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Groningen, specializing in Theoretical Philosophy. He holds a PhD in cognitive science and philosophy from Leiden University. His research focuses on embodied cognition, biological interpretations of agency, and the philosophical implications of science fiction. He received a Vidi grant (2002) for 'Recasting Cognition as Layered Agency' and has authored influential works like Representation and Behavior (MIT Press, 2001) and Filosofie van de toekomst (2010). His interdisciplinary work bridges philosophy, neuroscience, and biology, emphasizing evolutionary and dynamical systems approaches to cognition. Education: PhD in Cognitive Science and Philosophy (Leiden University). Key research areas include neurobiology, cognitive systematics, and ecological embodiment. He has supervised 3 academic works and contributed to special journal issues on basal cognition, early neural evolution, and nervous system functions. Awards: Vidi Grant (2002) Publications: Over 60 peer-reviewed articles in journals like Philosophical Psychology , Adaptive Behavior , and Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B . Activities: Invited speaker at international conferences on perception, action, and cognitive evolution.

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David StamosView profile

Professor

York UniversityCanada

David Stamos is a Professor in the Department of Philosophy at York University, specializing in the philosophy of science, evolutionary theory, and interdisciplinary studies. His research spans topics such as species concepts, the meaning of life, and the intersection of science and literature, particularly focusing on Edgar Allan Poe. He holds a Ph.D. from York University (1996) and has authored multiple influential books, including Edgar Allan Poe, Eureka, and Scientific Imagination (2017) and The Myth of Universal Human Rights (2013). Stamos has been recognized for his contributions to evolutionary philosophy, including a Choice Outstanding Academic Title award for Evolution and the Big Questions (2008). His work often challenges conventional academic frameworks, emphasizing empirical evidence and interdisciplinary approaches. Research Interests: Philosophy of Science, Evolutionary Biology, Ethics, Literary Studies, Film Analysis, and the History of Science. Recent Articles: Recent works include explorations of neoteny’s role in the meaning of life (2023), Poe’s influence on modern scientific thought (2021), and critical analyses of Darwin’s species concepts (2013). His articles often bridge gaps between philosophy, biology, and cultural studies. Awards: Choice Outstanding Academic Title (2008), Global Music Awards Silver Medal (2022). Community Contributions: Stamos has engaged with educational outreach, delivering lectures on writing and publishing to high school and retirement communities. His semi-retired status allows him to pursue creative projects, including composing pipe organ music and producing the film A Night at the Organ (2021).

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Christos KyriacouView profile

Assistant Professor

University of CyprusCyprus

Christos Kyriacou is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy in the Department of Classics and Philosophy at the University of Cyprus. He holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Edinburgh (2010) and has been recognized as an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow at Humboldt University, Berlin (2021-2022) with an upcoming Humboldt Visiting Fellowship at Heidelberg University in 2025. His educational background includes: PhD in Philosophy, University of Edinburgh, 2010 MSc in Philosophy, University of Edinburgh, 2006 BA in Sociology and Philosophy (minor), University of Cyprus, 2005, with Distinction Dr. Kyriacou's research primarily focuses on epistemology, metaethics, and their intersections, with special interest in rationality. His work spans several key areas including the semantics of knowledge attributions, epistemic rationality and reasons, moral rationality and reasons, evolutionary debunking arguments, rational intuitionism, conceptual competence, companions-in-guilt arguments, expressivism, virtue ethics, and virtue epistemology. He has made significant contributions to AI ethics, examining the moral and epistemological implications of artificial intelligence systems alongside historical philosophical analysis. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward examining skepticism from multiple angles, exploring the intersections between metaethics and epistemology, and applying philosophical reasoning to contemporary issues like AI ethics and pandemic response. His work consistently bridges historical philosophical texts with modern debates, demonstrating both scholarly depth and contemporary relevance. His notable scientific achievements include: Humboldt Visiting Fellow, Heidelberg University, 2025 Alexander von Humboldt Fellow, Humboldt University, Berlin, 2021-2022 Dr. Kyriacou has served as a referee for numerous prestigious philosophy journals including the Journal of Philosophy, Philosophical Studies, The Philosophical Quarterly, and many others. He has edited significant volumes including "Metaepistemology - Realism and Antirealism" (2018) and "Skeptical Invariantism Reconsidered" (2021), and has textbooks under contract with Cambridge UP on "Introduction to Metaepistemology" and "Moral Intuitionism." His extensive teaching portfolio covers Introduction to Philosophy, Ethics, Epistemology, Metaethics, and historical figures from Aristotle to Kant.

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Claudio TernulloView profile

Adjunct Professor

Catania UniversityItaly

Claudio Ternullo serves as an Adjunct Professor of Philosophy of Science at the University of Catania and Project Director at Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca for the PNRR-Marie Curie-Seal of Excellence funded research project "Self-Similarity, Large Cardinals and the Universe of Sets". He previously held postdoctoral positions at the Kurt Gödel Research Center for Mathematical Logic at the University of Vienna, University of Tartu, and University of Barcelona where he was a Beatriu de Pinós Fellow for over three years. Dr. Ternullo earned dual PhDs in Philosophy from the University of Pisa (2005, supervised by Prof. E. Moriconi) and the University of Liverpool (2012, supervised by Prof. M. Leng), both specializing in philosophy and foundations of mathematics. In 2022, he obtained the Scientific Qualification of II level (Associate Professor) in the sector M-FIL/02: Logic and Philosophy of Science. His primary research focuses on the philosophy and foundations of mathematics, particularly the philosophy of set theory, where he has made significant contributions to understanding mathematical Platonism, the set-theoretic multiverse, new axioms and their justification, principles of abstraction, neo-logicism, and alternative conceptions of infinity. His work spans both contemporary mathematical philosophy and historical analysis of logic, with additional interests in ancient philosophy. The publication trends show increasing engagement with large cardinal axioms, multiverse conceptions, and the philosophical implications of set-theoretic foundations. Beatriu de Pinós Fellow (Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND Programme) Marie Skłodowska-Curie Seal of Excellence grant recipient Scientific Qualification of II level (Associate Professor) in M-FIL/02 Secretary of the Italian Society for Logic and Philosophy of Science (since September 2023) Dr. Ternullo has advised multiple thesis students at the University of Catania on topics including "Philosophy and quantum physics" and the "Demarcation problem." His research has been supported by prestigious grants including the Beatriu de Pinós Grant (€144,000), John Templeton Foundation Grant, and multiple European research funding programs. He has been an active member of the Barcelona Research Group in Logic (BCNLogic) and the LOGOS Research Group in Analytic Philosophy. He leads the "Self-Similarity, Large Cardinals and Incompleteness" research project at Babeș-Bolyai University with a €150,000 budget, while also contributing to the "Set Theory at a Crossroads: Proving the HOD Conjecture" project at the University of Barcelona. His collaborative work extends to the Hyperuniverse Programme research group which he joined in 2013.

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Stephen JohnView profile

Senior Lecturer

University of CambridgeUnited Kingdom

Stephen John is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Cambridge, holding the position of Hatton Lecturer in the Philosophy of Public Health. He also serves as Director of Studies in Philosophy at Pembroke College. His academic work spans the intersection of philosophy of science, applied ethics, social epistemology, and political philosophy. His research focuses on concepts that present both ethical and epistemological challenges: certainty, communication, chance, and categorization. He has examined how these concepts function in policy-making through case studies ranging from Lysenkoist genetics to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to contemporary alcohol policy. Currently, his research centers on debates surrounding early detection and prevention of cancer. John is affiliated with several important research centers including the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, Cambridge University's Public Health Strategic Research Network, and the Early Detection Programme at the Cambridge Cancer Centre. He previously co-directed the 'Limits of the Numerical' project at CRASSH from 2015 to 2018 with Anna Alexandrova. His scholarly work demonstrates consistent focus on the ethical dimensions of scientific practice, particularly how values influence scientific judgment and policy formation. His recent publications explore pandemic ethics, vaccination policy, and the philosophical foundations of public health interventions, reflecting his ongoing interest in the interface between scientific knowledge and policy implementation. His research contributions have established him as a significant voice in debates about: The role of values in scientific practice Epistemic trust in scientific institutions Ethics of public health policy Philosophical foundations of cancer screening The relationship between scientific expertise and democratic decision-making

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Mélanie FrappierView profile

Associate Professor

University of King's CollegeCanada

Mélanie Frappier is an Associate Professor of Humanities and Director of the History of Science and Technology Program at the University of King's College. She holds a BScA in Engineering Physics (Laval), MA in Philosophy (Laval), and PhD in Philosophy (Western Ontario). Her research bridges the history of modern physics, ethical evolution in engineering/architecture, and the role of thought experiments in scientific reasoning. She has organized international conferences and co-managed the SSHRC Situating Science project, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue on science and technology studies. Her teaching spans courses like Thought Experiments in Physics , Women in Science , and History of Epidemics . Notable publications include Thought Experiments in Philosophy, Science, and the Arts (2012) and contributions to Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics . She actively engages in science communication through literary reviews and museum-focused research. Frappier's work emphasizes the liberal arts dimensions of engineering and material culture, exploring how scientific and technical knowledge shape societal ethics. Her current projects focus on Canadian engineering history and the philosophical implications of quantum theory.

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Martin NissView profile

Associate Professor

Roskilde UniversityDenmark

Martin Niss is an Associate Professor in the Department of Science and Environment Mathematics and Physics (IMFUFA) at Roskilde University, Denmark. He is affiliated with the Science Studies Centre for Research on Problem-oriented Project Learning. His research focuses on science education, problem-based learning (PBL), physics education, and the history of physics modeling. Key projects include PRIMAS (2010–2013), promoting inquiry in math/science education, and a 2020 project on PBL dynamics in natural science. His work spans comparative didactics, formative evaluation, and interdisciplinary approaches. He has published extensively on student peer feedback mechanisms, challenges in undergraduate mathematics, and historical analyses of physics concepts like phase transitions. Notable collaborations include comparative studies across higher education contexts and investigations into scientific demarcation criteria. Dr. Niss has actively participated in academic activities, including organizing the 2023 ‘Symposium for Comparative Subject Didactics’ and presenting at conferences on inquiry-based learning and physics pedagogy. His contributions extend to media engagements, such as a 2018 RU Radio podcast discussing math challenges and physics concepts.

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Nikil MukerjiView profile

Researcher

Ludwig Maximilian University of MunichGermany

Nikil Mukerji is a researcher at the Faculty of Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and Religious Studies at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich). He completed his PhD in 2016 and Habilitation in philosophy in 2021, alongside a B.A. in business administration and a PostGradDip in economics. His interdisciplinary academic profile bridges philosophy and economics, with a strong focus on empirical approaches to philosophical questions. Dr. Mukerji's research interests span applied and theoretical ethics, epistemology, philosophy of science, and pseudoscience studies. His work often examines the intersection of moral philosophy with practical real-world issues, including business ethics, political philosophy, and the social implications of emerging technologies. He is particularly known for his critical analysis of consequentialism, bullshit theory, and the demarcation problem between science and pseudoscience. His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on philosophical methodology and conceptual clarity, with significant contributions in 2024 on epistemic rationality, 2022 papers on pseudoscience and argumentative bullshit, and his influential 2016 book The Case Against Consequentialism Reconsidered . His work shows a clear trajectory from foundational ethical theory toward more applied concerns in science communication and public discourse. Dr. Mukerji is an active science communicator for GWUP (Gesellschaft zur wissenschaftlichen Untersuchung von Parawissenschaften), the German arm of the international skeptic movement, and serves on the scientific counsel of the Hans-Albert Institute. His 2020 monograph Covid-19: Was in der Krise zählt was the first German book specifically addressing the philosophical dimensions of the pandemic. As academic director of the Philosophie Politik Wirtschaft (PPW) executive degree program, he bridges academic philosophy with practical applications in policy and business contexts. His dual background in philosophy and economics informs his unique perspective on how ethical frameworks interact with economic systems and decision-making processes.

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Christine TiefenseeView profile

Professor

Frankfurt School of Finance and ManagementGermany

Christine Tiefensee is a Professor of Philosophy at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, Germany. Her academic journey includes studies in philosophy and political science at the universities of Mannheim, Mainz, and Nottingham, followed by advanced degrees at the University of Cambridge (M.Phil. and Ph.D. in 2011). Her research focuses on metaethical questions surrounding normativity , integrating these with debates in philosophy of language and social science. Key areas include moral realism, error theory, and inferentialist approaches to ethics. She has held significant roles, including Vice President of the Society for Analytic Philosophy (2016-2022), and has received the Frankfurt School Teaching Award (2018). Recent publications explore semantic challenges to moral error theory, the relationship between moral doctrines and expressivism, and the implications of relaxed realism. Her work bridges abstract metaethical debate with practical concerns in political philosophy and collective responsibility. Scientific Awards: Frankfurt School Teaching Award (2018)

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