Gabriele Contessa

Gabriele Contessa serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy within Carleton University's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. His academic profile centers on interdisciplinary research bridging epistemology, scientific practice, and socioeconomic theory, with significant contributions to understanding public trust in science and methodological challenges in economics.

His educational trajectory includes a Laurea from Universita' di Roma "La Sapienza", followed by an M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the London School of Economics (LSE), establishing foundations for his dual focus on analytical philosophy and economic methodology.

Contessa's research program exhibits three converging strands: (1) Social epistemology investigations into how collective cognitive structures sustain scientific credibility, particularly regarding public trust mechanisms and expert networks; (2) Philosophy of economics analyses of value-laden judgments in macroeconomic modeling, especially concerning inductive risk and policy impacts; (3) Metaphysical examinations of dispositional properties and mereological structures. His recent publications reveal intensifying engagement with science-society interfaces, notably through frameworks like the "science contract" concept.

His publication pattern shows consistent output in premier philosophy journals including Synthese, Mind, and Erkenntnis, with increasing emphasis on socially embedded epistemology since 2020. The thematic evolution from technical metaphysics toward institutional epistemology reflects broader disciplinary shifts in philosophy of science.

Contessa maintains active teaching responsibilities including Introduction to Philosophy of Science and Truth and Propaganda, courses examining scientific methodology and truth-claims in public discourse. His virtual office hours (Wednesdays 1:35–2:25 PM) facilitate student engagement within Carleton's philosophy community.