Lydia Patton

Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Ph.D. McGill University, 2004
219 Major Williams Hall | Email | (540) 231-8489 | Personal Website
Kant and Neo-Kantianism, History of the Philosophy of Science

Dr. Patton's research centers on the history and philosophy of science, especially on scientific experiment and theory building. Recent work focuses on Heinrich Hertz's discovery of electromagnetic waves, theory of electromagnetism, and model theory (Bildtheorie), and on Kant's philosophy as a response to empiricism and rationalism.

Recent Articles

• “The Paradox of Infinite Given Magnitude,” Kant-Studien, forthcoming.
• “Signs, Toy Models, and the A Priori,” Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 40.3, September 2009, 281-289.
• “The Critical Philosophy Renewed,” Angelaki 10.1, April 2005, 109-118.

Translation and Discussion

• “Hermann Cohen's Critical Idealism and Yearning For Form and Other Essays on Hermann Cohen's Thought,” European Journal of Philosophy 16.1, April 2008, 142-148.
• “Hermann von Helmholtz,” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, February 2008.
• Translation of Ernst Cassirer, “Hermann Cohen and the Renewal of Kantian Philosophy,” Angelaki 10.1, April 2005, 95-108.

Regular Classes

• Philosophy 2126: Late Modern Philosophy
• Philosophy 5204: Topics in the History of Philosophy