I am a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Biology at Duke University and a lecturer in the Cognitive Science Dept. at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. I received my doctorate in philosophy from the University at Albany, SUNY in 2020.
My research is primarily in the philosophy of biology. It focuses on topics like biological individuality, species, and both modern and historical accounts of teleology. These days much of my work aims to develop a new approach to understanding goal directed systems called field theory. Recently, Dan McShea and I have been awarded a grant from the Templeton Foundation to fund a two-year long project titled Purpose, Agency, and Field Theory that is a continuation of our work. My other research considers developments in synthetic biology, biological concepts like bio-indeficiency alongside various areas of biotechnology to determine how these alter the metaphysical underpinnings of concepts like reproduction, species, lineages, and life generally. My broader philosophical interests extend to the history and philosophy of science, environmental ethics and ancient philosophy.
Prior to my academic endeavors, I managed a non-profit domestication project in Alaska aimed at creating a sustainable form of northern agriculture. These days, beyond philosophy, I tinker with old motorcycles and attempt to get vegetables to grow in a garden. And having grown up climbing in Alaska, I remain an avid mountaineer when time allows. I currently reside in upstate New York with my wife, son, and our two dogs.
Gunnar O. Babcock 