Paul Bartha

Paul Bartha is a Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia (UBC), within the Faculty of Arts. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. His research focuses on logic, decision theory, and the philosophy of science, with particular emphasis on probability, confirmation, analogical reasoning, and precautionary principles. His work includes influential contributions to the analysis of Pascal’s Wager, analogical arguments in mathematics and science, and ethical reasoning under uncertainty. He teaches courses such as Symbolic Logic, Philosophy of Science, and Decision Theory. His publications span applied ethics, formal epistemology, and the methodology of scientific reasoning. Bartha’s book By Parallel Reasoning: The Construction and Evaluation of Analogical Arguments (Oxford University Press, 2010) is a seminal work on analogical reasoning in philosophy and science.

Research Interests: Bartha’s work integrates formal methods with philosophical inquiry, addressing topics such as the justification of scientific models, the role of symmetry in probability, and the ethical dimensions of environmental policymaking. His recent projects explore the precautionary principle through lexicographic utility frameworks and the application of decision theory to climate change dilemmas.

Teaching and Academic Contributions: Bartha has taught courses on logic, decision theory, and the philosophy of science at UBC. His teaching materials, such as those on interpretations of probability, reflect his commitment to bridging formal and applied philosophy. He has presented widely, including at institutions like Monash University and the California Institute of Technology.

Publications and Impact: His scholarship is characterized by rigorous analysis of foundational issues in logic and ethics. Key contributions include critiques of infinite utility in Pascal’s Wager, explorations of analogical reasoning in scientific contexts, and frameworks for evaluating precautionary measures in environmental policy.