معرفی
Oliver Pooley is Vice Provost at Oriel College, University of Oxford, where he serves as Fellow and Tutor in Philosophy. He is also an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Oxford. His academic appointments include teaching roles in multiple interdisciplinary programs: Computer Science and Philosophy, Mathematics and Philosophy, Philosophy and Modern Languages, Philosophy (Joint Honours), Philosophy and Theology, Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and Physics and Philosophy.
Pooley's research focuses on the philosophy of physics, particularly the nature of space, time, and spacetime. His work intersects significantly with metaphysics and the philosophy of language. He is currently completing a book titled The Reality of Spacetime under contract with Oxford University Press. His research addresses fundamental questions about whether time really passes (concluding it doesn't) and how work in general metaphysics should inform the interpretation of physics.
Analysis of Pooley's publication record reveals a sustained focus on spacetime ontology, particularly the substantivalist-relationalist debate. His work frequently engages with the hole argument, general covariance, and background independence in both classical and relativistic physics. A significant portion of his scholarship examines how metaphysical considerations interact with physical theories, especially regarding the interpretation of spacetime structure. His more recent work shows increasing attention to the relationship between dynamical symmetries and spacetime structure.
Prior to his current position at Oriel, Pooley held a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship and college lectureship at Exeter College, Oxford. His teaching interests extend beyond philosophy of physics to include logic, metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of language, and philosophy of science. He actively welcomes contact from potential graduate students whose research interests overlap with his own.
