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PhD from Cambridge
In 1981 John Dupre received his Ph. D from Cambridge University after studying for two years at Harkness Fellow in the United States. From there, he then was a junior researcher at Saint John's College in Oxford. Following that he took a position at Stanford University teaching Philosophy until 1996. -
"The Disorder of Things: Metaphysical Foundations of the Unity of Science"
Dupre's book , "The Disorder of Things: Metaphysical Foundations of the Unity of Science" was published in 1993 and presents an indeterministic metaphysics. He argues that this metaphysics is much better suited to understanding science as a whole, but biology specifically, than the monistic physicalism which is assumed by most philosophers of science today. Major Works: Dupré, John. The Disorder of Things: Metaphysical Foundations of the Disunity of Science. Harvard University Press, 1993. -
"Human Nature and the Limits of Science"
His previous book in 1993 set the stage for this work, "Human Nature and the Limits of Science," published in 2001, which discusses rational choice theory and evolutionary psychology. It also breaches the necessity of a pluralistic understanding of human nature. Major Work Dupre, John. Human Nature and the Limits of Science. Oxford UP, 2001. -
2002-2012 Director of the ESRC Centre for Genomics in Society
John Dupre was the Director of the ESRC Centre for Genomics in Society from 2002-12. During this time, Dupre's research focused on philosophical issues related to the interpretation and implications of genetics and genomics. Dupre and Professor Barry Barnes published "Genomes and What to Make of Them" in 2008, on a sociological and philosophical introduction to genomics. Major Work: Barnes, Barry, and John Dupre. Genomes and What to Make of Them. U of Chicago P, 2008. -
Why Philosophy of Biology?
This 23 minute YouTube video shows John Dupre in 2012 speaking about the philosophy of biology and how it has become an essential contributor to our understanding of science and to our general philosophical interpretation of the world.
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2013-2018 A Process Ontology for Contemporary Biology
From 2013 to 2018 John Dupre worked on A Process Ontology for Contemporary Biology, a funded project aimed to articulate a process-centered ontology that argued to be better suited to understanding the biological and biomedical sciences than traditional thing or substance based ontologies. -
"Everything Flows: Towards a Processual Philosophy of Biology"
A key output from his project ending in 2018 was the book, "Everything Flows: Towards a Processual Philosophy of Biology". This book was published in 2018 and co-edited by his colleague Daniel Nicholson. Major Work Cited: Nicholson, Daniel J., and John Dupré. Everything Flows: Towards a Processual Philosophy of Biology. Oxford UP, 2018. -
What John Dupre is Doing Today
Today, John Dupre is working on the implications of a process ontology for our understanding of human existence and the findings of his research will pre presented in Edinburgh, 2023, at the Gifford lectures. Additionally, Dupre is working on another book in regards to his project that concluded in 2018 which we can expect to see published in 2023.