Walter Dean

Walter Dean is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Warwick, where he also convenes the joint degrees in Mathematics and Philosophy. His research focuses on the philosophy of mathematics, mathematical logic, and the history and philosophy of computation. He holds a PhD in Computer Science (2010, CUNY) and a PhD in Philosophy (2007, Rutgers), as well as an MSc in Logic (1999, Amsterdam).

Dean has held prestigious fellowships, including a 2022-2023 fellowship at the Institut d'études avancée de Paris and a von Humboldt fellowship at the MCMP in Munich (2020-2022). His work bridges philosophy and computer science, exploring topics such as algorithmic complexity barriers, the method of arithmetization, and the implications of computational complexity for mathematical understanding. Recent projects include investigating P vs NP and the philosophical significance of mathematical undecidability.

His research interests include the methodology of informal rigour, reverse mathematics, Gödel’s completeness theorem, and the foundations of computer science. He frequently presents at international conferences and publishes on topics ranging from paradox resolution to the ontological status of algorithms.