Alasdair Richmond

Alasdair Richmond is a threefold graduate of Aberdeen University and joined Philosophy at Edinburgh in October 2003. He has published on constructive empiricism, the Anthropic Principle, Doomsday arguments, Descartes' conception of immortality, time travel and the topology of time. Following research leave 2008-09 (part-funded by the AHRC), he is currently working on a book entitled 'Time Travel for Philosophers' and a series of related articles. Besides teaching epistemology, metaphysics and philosophy of science, he was closely involved with the Higher Philosophy programme 1999-2003, conducting classes for pupils and Continuing Professional Development days for teachers from all over Scotland.

2000-2003 -  Temporary Lecturer, University of Aberdeen

2003-2006 - Temporary Lecturer, University of Edinburgh

2006-2011 - Lecturer, University of Edinburgh

2011-present - Senior Lecturer, University of Edinburgh

1989-1993 - M.A Mental Philosophy, Graduated with First-class Honours, University of Aberdeen

1993-1994 - M, Litt, Berkeley and the Methodological Commitment to Absolute Space, Graduated with Distinction. University of Aberdeen

1994-1998 - Ph.D, Some Varieties of Scientific Anti-realism. University of Aberdeen

First Year Lectures:

- Philosophy of Scoence 1, (epistemology, Induction and Falsification, Explanation, probability, the Anthropic People, Relativity)

- Introduction to Philosophy 1, (Berkeley, theory of Knowledge)

- Greats: from Plato to the Enlightenment (Descartes' Mediations, Berkeley's Principles of Human Knowledge)

Second Year Lectures

- Philosophy 2A, Knowledge and Reality (space, time, descartes, causation)

Honors core courses

- Lecture/Tutor on Metaphysics and Epistemology (universals, possible worlds, counterfactuals, events, personal identity)

- History of Modern Philosophy (Berkeley)

- Tutor for mind and Language

Honors Options Courses (sole Lecturer in each case)

- Advanced Topics in Philosophy of Science

- British Idealism and Immaterialism

- Philosophy of Time

- Philosophy of Time Travel

Msc. (taught masters): Lecturer/Tutor on Modules Current Issues and Advanced Philosophical Topics

Internal Examiner for PhD and Msc Dissertations

2006-2008 - Senior Tutor in Philosophy, oversight of all undergraduate teaching in Philosophy, including management of all joint degreee programmes, allocation of tutors, desihn of course documents, etc. 

2006-2008 - Deputy Head of Philosophy

2005-present - Director of Studies, oversight of degree process, course changes and advising on academic/ personal/medical problems for 40-50 undergraduates.

2003-2010 - Philosophy QAE Officer, Monitoring courses and degree programmes, preparing subject area responses to externals and QAE Report. 

Supervisor of PhD and Msc Dissertations

2005-onwards - Philosophy Library Officer and Kickstart Organiser in 2006

Course organiser for Philosophy of Science 1 and Philosophy 2A.

Membership of University Committees

- Member of the CHSS Library Committee (2009-2011)

- PPLS Undergraduate Studies Committee (2006-2008)

- External member of School Undergraduate Studies Committee ( Literatures, Languages and Cultures 2007-2008 and Divinity 2009-present)

School Webpage