If you wish to get in touch with our administrative staff, please see the admin staff contact page.
Ben Smart
Seminar Leader and Research Student, Faculty of Arts
Contact
Research Summary
My primary interests lie within metaphysics, with the study of causation and causal laws forming the backbone of my PhD. I particularly enjoy the works of David Hume and J. L. Mackie, but argue… read more
Current Research
My primary interests lie within metaphysics, with the study of causation and causal laws forming the backbone of my PhD. I particularly enjoy the works of David Hume and J. L. Mackie, but argue against the regularity theory of causation in favour of necessary connections in nature, and specifically dispositional theories of causation. David Armstrong, Stephen Mumford and George Molnar have of course been major influences. Other research interests include the philosophy of time and change, skepticism, and the link between contemporary science and metaphysics. I strongly believe that a dialogue between philosophy and physics will greatly enhance the progression of both disciplines.
Thesis: Why Is the Universe Uniform?
Supervisor: Penelope Mackie