Thomas Reydon

Prof. Thomas Reydon is a Professor of Philosophy of Science and Technology at Leibniz University Hannover's Institute of Philosophy, with a cross-appointment at the Centre for Ethics and Law in the Life Sciences (CELLS). He holds two Master's degrees (Physics and Philosophy of Science) and a PhD from Leiden University. His research focuses on philosophy of biology, general philosophy of science, bioethics, and conceptual analysis in science. Reydon has held visiting fellowships at the University of Minnesota and Michigan State University, and leads a research group in philosophy of the life sciences. His work bridges theoretical and applied domains, addressing classification, natural kinds, and ethical issues in science. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal for General Philosophy of Science and co-founder of the German Society for Philosophy of Science.

Education:

• Master's in Physics, Leiden University
• Master's in Philosophy of Science, Leiden University
• PhD in Philosophy of Biology, Leiden University (dissertation: Species as Units of Generalization in Biological Science)

Research Interests: Reydon explores epistemological, metaphysical, and ethical questions in life sciences, emphasizing classification systems, natural kinds, and the application of evolutionary thinking. He advocates for pluralistic approaches to scientific classification and integrates non-epistemic values into scientific practice.

Articles: His recent work addresses topics like ethnobiological classification, evolutionary explanations at life's origins, and the role of history in evolutionary science. These contributions highlight interdisciplinary dialogue and methodological innovation.

Awards:

• Fellow of the Linnean Society

Advising & Grants: Supervised PhD students include Karim Baraghith (DFG-ANR project), Ina Gawel (GRK 2073), and Martin Wasmer (BMBF project). Active in securing research funding, e.g., DFG grants and international collaborations.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Hannover Philosophy of the Life Sciences group, fostering interdisciplinary research on topics like cultural evolution and genome-edited organisms' ontological status.