
Dr Karim Thebault
BA(Oxon.), MSc(Lond.), PhD(Syd.)
Current positions
Associate Professor in Philosophy of Science
Department of Philosophy
Contact
Press and media
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Research interests
I am an Associate Professor (formerly Reader) in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Bristol. I am also an external member of the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (LMU Munch).
My current research is principally within physics and the philosophy of physics. My main research focus is the problem of time in classical and quantum theories of gravity. Further topics of current interest include dynamical approaches to symmetry, black hole physics, analogue gravity, quantum cosmology, the arrow of time in quantum theory, and the foundations of general relativity.
I have previously worked on various topics in the epistemology and methodology of natural and social sciences.
I am keen to support the applications of students for doctoral studies relating to technically informed projects in the philosophy and foundations of physics. If you have the appropriate background and interests please contact me.
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
IF24\101045 The Mystical Physicists
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Department of PhilosophyDates
01/01/2025 to 31/12/2026
The Universe as an Open System
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Department of PhilosophyDates
01/02/2022 to 31/01/2024
Singularity Resolution and Explanation in Bouncing Quantum Cosmology
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Department of PhilosophyDates
01/01/2022 to 31/12/2022
Analogue Simulation in Modern Physics
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Department of PhilosophyDates
01/01/2017 to 30/09/2018
Thesis supervisions
Classification and Explanation at the Crossroads of the Social and Natural Sciences
Supervisors
1YQ5MEG
Supervisors
Has Metaphysics Done Its Time?
Supervisors
Models, data, and unobservable phenomena in physics
Supervisors
Time Reversal Symmetry in Particle Physics
Supervisors
Functional Reduction in the Physical Sciences
Supervisors
Empiricism in the philosophy of science
Supervisors
Publications
Selected publications
01/10/2021On Mach On Time
Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A
On the Limits of Experimental Knowledge
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Superpositions of the cosmological constant allow for singularity resolution and unitary evolution in quantum cosmology
Physics Letters B
Recent publications
20/12/2024Theories Without Models
Synthese
Time regained
Time regained
Big Bang Singularity Resolution In Quantum Cosmology
Classical and Quantum Gravity
Explanatory Depth in Primordial Cosmology: A Comparative Study of Inflationary and Bouncing Paradigms
British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
How to engineer a quantum wavefunction
Philosophy of Science