Alison Wylie

Alison Wylie is a Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Arts, where she holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Philosophy of the Social and Historical Sciences. She also serves as Associate Faculty in UBC Anthropology. Her interdisciplinary work bridges philosophy, archaeology, and science studies through the UBC-based Indigenous/Science project.

Dr. Wylie's educational background includes a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Binghamton University (1982) and a B.A. in Philosophy & Sociology from Mount Allison University (1976).

Her research centers on how inquiry succeeds under non-ideal conditions, with specialization in philosophy of the social and historical sciences; feminist philosophy of science; history and philosophy of archaeology; and ethics issues in the social sciences. She focuses on evidence, objectivity, values in science, and accountability, with recent work exploring collaborative practices inspired by Indigenous knowledge systems. Her case-based approach examines how archaeological practice embodies methodological wisdom that's rarely made explicit.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on evidential reasoning in archaeological practice, with increasing attention to collaborative and Indigenous approaches to knowledge production. Her work demonstrates how philosophical analysis of archaeological practice can yield insights applicable across scientific disciplines, particularly regarding how values shape scientific inquiry while maintaining objectivity.

Major Awards and Honors:

• Canada Research Chair in Philosophy of the Social and Historical Sciences, Tier 1 (2018-2023)
• Australian Academy of the Humanities, Corresponding Fellow (elected 2019)
• 2013 Distinguished Woman Philosopher of the Year, Society for Women in Philosophy
• 2008 Patty Jo Watson Distinguished Lecturer, Archaeology Division, American Anthropological Association
• 1995 Presidential Award, Society for American Archaeology, for contributions to the Committee for Ethics in Archaeology

Professor Wylie has delivered numerous prestigious lectures including the AAAS Sarton Memorial Lecture (2020), Saunders Lecture (2019), and APA Dewey Lecture (2017). She has been instrumental in developing frameworks for understanding how situated knowledge and collaborative practices enhance rather than compromise scientific objectivity, particularly through her work on standpoint theory and evidential reasoning in archaeology.

Her research program includes significant engagement with the Indigenous/Science project at UBC, where she explores collaborative approaches to knowledge production that respect diverse epistemic traditions while maintaining rigorous standards of evidence and reasoning.