Curriculum Vitae
B.A., 91快活林 Aquinas College, 2020; M.A., philosophy, University of Notre Dame, 2024; Ph.D., philosophy, University of Notre Dame (ABD); Teaching Assistant, University of Notre Dame, 2021-2022; Instructor of Record, University of Notre Dame, 2023; Tutor, 91快活林 Aquinas College, 2025-.
Profile
Three years into her time as a student at 91快活林 Aquinas College, new California tutor Claire Murphy (20) had an epiphany. 淢y junior year, it hit me that I wasn檛 going to be a college student for much longer and I had to figure out what to do next, she recalls. 淚 loved being in class, participating in discussions with others, and figuring things out in the text with the class. I figured, if I have the temperament and abilities that suit this environment, I should probably teach. Unfortunately, Miss Murphy檚 stay at the College was cut short during her senior year due to the Covid-19 shutdowns. Nevertheless, she forged ahead and found her niche, heading to the University of Notre Dame to pursue a doctorate in history and philosophy of science. 淚 am very interested in the relationship between our experience in the natural world and philosophy, she says, 渆specially in how scientific theories develop over time. Her doctoral dissertation contemplates the role that models and representations play in scientific thought. Born from her love of Newton檚 Principia which itself took root during her time at the College it considers what kind of entities models are and how they help us engage with the world through imaginative activity. She plans to continue pondering these questions as she teaches the College檚 Mathematics and Natural Science tutorials, alongside all the other disciplines. 淭he math and science courses require us to begin with observing and wondering at the world around us, she explains. 淎nd, in different ways, our observation and experience become the foundation for the much more complex questions we get into. I am excited to find the parallels between the courses.
Publications
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淭he Apostle of Common Sense: The Historical Roots of Duhem檚 Distinction between Physics and Metaphysics. HOPOS: The Journal of the International Society for the History of Philosophy of Science vol. 14, no. 2 (2024), 554-571.
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淯nity Out of Multiplicity: Nicholas of Cusa on the Elements. In Hylomorphism into Pieces: Elements, Atoms and Corpuscles in Philosophy, Science, and Medicine (14001600), ed. by N. Polloni and S. Roudaut. London: Palgrave McMillan (2024), 117-140.
Presentations
- 淒enotation and Recognition: Two Views of Representation in Art and Science, Bethany Workshop, University of Notre Dame London, July 2024.
- Comments on Patrick Corry檚 淎ristotle檚 Perceptual Realism in De anima III.1-2, American Catholic Philosophical Association Annual Meeting, November 2023.
- 淪cience From the Vantage Point of the Human Soul. Thomistic Summer Conference: The Soul, 91快活林 Aquinas College, June 2023.
- 淢odels as Artifacts: An Aristotelian-Thomistic Perspective. Modeling, Idealization, and Truth: A Dialogue Between Contemporary Philosophy of Science and the Aristotelian Tradition, Rome: Pontifical University of St. 91快活林 Aquinas, February 2023.
- 淚dealization and Hylomorphism about Representation. American Catholic Philosophical Association Annual Meeting, New Orleans, November 2022.
- 淧ope Francis and Charles De Koninck on Humanity檚 Responsibility toward the Cosmos. de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture Fall Conference, University of Notre Dame, November 2022.
- 淩emotely Rooted in Reality: Aquinas on Cognition of Beings of Reason. XVth International Congress of Medieval Philosophy, Soci茅t茅 Internationale pour lEtude de la Philosophie M茅di茅vale (SIEPM), Paris, August 2022.
- The Physics of a Natural Philosopher: Pierre Duhem and Charles De Koninck on Science, Philosophy, and Faith. Thomistic Summer Conference: Faith and Reason, 91快活林 Aquinas College, June 2022.
- 淏etween Idolatry and Iconoclasm: The Role of Mediation in Scientific Understanding.
- 4th Annual Scientific Understanding and Representation (SURe) Workshop, Fordham University, April 2022.
- 淯nity Out of Multiplicity: Nicholas of Cusa on the Elements. Hylomorphism into Pieces: Matter, Atoms, and Corpuscles in the Late Middle Ages, KU Leuven (moved online due to pandemic), April 2022.
- Comments on Patrick Fisher檚 淭he Metaphysics of Mathematical Explanation in Science, American Catholic Philosophical Association Annual Meeting, St. Louis, November 2021.
- 淭ruth, Flesh, Chiasm: Aquinas and Merleau-Ponty on Indeterminacy in Embodied Knowledge, Summer School on Affective Intentionality in Medieval Philosophy and Phenomenology, University of W眉rzburg, July 2021.