Who We Are
Dan McShea
Professor of Biology
Dan McShea received his PhD in evolutionary biology from the University of Chicago, and in the years after that worked mainly on empirical projects having to do with large-scale trends in evolution, especially the putative trend in the complexity of organisms. In recent years, his research has turned to purpose, or teleology, where his focus is on developing a unified theory that explains how all goal-directed systems work. He has three books: 1) a philosophy of biology textbook with Alex Rosenberg (Duke), The Philosophy of Biology: A Contemporary Introduction (Routledge); 2) Biology’s First Law (U. Chicago Press, with Robert Brandon, Duke) proposing a new law of biology; and 3) a sequel called The Missing Two Thirds of Evolutionary Theory (Cambridge U. Press, also with Robert Brandon). He has taught courses on the history of life, philosophy of biology, evolutionary trends, emotion, ethics, happiness, and purpose. When he’s not teaching, thinking about biology, or talking with Gunnar about purpose, look for him on the tennis court.
Resarch website: https://sites.duke.edu/mcshearesearch/
Gunnar Babcock
Postdoctoral Associate
Gunnar Babcock is currently a postdoctoral associate in the Dept. of Biology at Duke University. He received his PhD in philosophy from the University at Albany, SUNY and his research is, primarily, in the philosophy of biology. His work appears in journals such as the British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, Synthese, and Philosophy of Science. He has taught courses that address philosophy of science, ancient philosophy, evolutionary biology, environmental philosophy, and applied ethics. He has been working and collaborating with Dan McShea since 2020. Before coming to Duke to work with Dan, he taught at various colleges and universities, and before that he oversaw a domestication project in Alaska for six years. If you’re curious about Gunnar’s work, check out his article in Aeon Magazine that considers identity and biological reproduction: https://aeon.co/essays/we-need-to-stop-thinking-about-sex-when-it-comes-to-reproduction
Research website: gunnarbabcock.com
James Gaspar
James Gaspar is currently in his final semester as a pre-law undergraduate at Duke University, majoring in Biology and Philosophy with a certificate in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. With an appetite for medical and biological ethics, James deeply appreciates the interdisciplinary overlap between philosophy and the sciences. He has been involved in research with Dan and Gunnar since June 2023, focusing on the expansion of field theory to account for biological shortcomings. Specifically, James seeks to introduce a framework to address questions related to function, mistake-making, and failures within goal-directed systems. When not studying the question of life’s purpose, you can find him researching the interplay of history, race, and medicine, enjoying classic movies, or on a California beach near his hometown.