Philosophy instructor wins $200,000 grant for research project on logic
Amanda Pollard
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: News
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Michael Epperson's research is based on the subject of his book that goes in depth about the problems people in the philosophy field are currently and have been facing.
Epperson's goal with his research is not only to help solve the problems with fitting logic into quantum mechanics. The reason philosophers are so interested in the two subjects is that the same principles used to organize nature are used to organize our thoughts.
Epperson completed his doctoral dissertation with a book titled "Quantum Mechanics and the Philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead."
Epperson modeled his research and the book after the British mathematician and philosopher Alfred Whitehead. Whitehead used metaphysics to explore what happens when one looks at nature as a history of facts instead of bits of matter moving around. The book attempts to show how Whitehead looked at physics and why it works well with the modern way people look at it.
The book is essentially what led Epperson to apply for an earlier grant through the Templeton Foundation, which he received and used to put together a team for his research. After receiving the first grant, Epperson helped a conference at the University of Maryland, where he chose Timothy Eastman, Henry Stapp and David Finkelstein to be part of his team.
Once Epperson developed a team of researchers, they began to draft a proposal for a grant to fund their research. The Fetzer Institute then sought Epperson and through the Fetzer-Franklin Fund they were offered the opportunity for a grant. Normally institutions like Fetzer do not take applications for grants, Epperson said.
"This institution contacted us once they had seen an earlier draft of our proposal, and next thing you know, they are interested in funding it themselves," Epperson said.
Epperson's team worked for six to eight months on the final proposal that would eventually lead to the grant he received.
Epperson is essentially attempting to see both an observer and nature as a system of facts, and to prove that they are in a state of interrelation.
"We are trying to show that fundamental units of nature are not bits of matter and are not objective facts being viewed by a subjective observer," Epperson said. "The big problem is unifying subject and object."
One member of Epperson's team, Henry P. Stapp of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, utilizes the new type of quantum theory in relation to neuroscience.
"When looking at the brain classically, you can use logic pretty well. Until you use microphysics that classical model doesn't seem to work as well," Epperson said. "So what if we try to use quantum mechanics to describe neuro-physical phenomenon? (Stapp) developed this model that neuroscientists are using to perform experiments."
Tim Eastman, project manager for Epperson's team, said the object of its research is to bring the best in contemporary philosophy to the best of modern physics.
"We hope to bring them together in a new way, which we hope can give new results," Eastman said. "We want to show that philosophy isn't a comment on theories, but answers that science can affect the key issues in philosophy."
Part of Epperson's team applies theories to the real world in a different way of looking at the brain in terms of consciousness and free will. Free will is currently off limits in that it isn't possible in classical mechanics; all you have to do is calculate motions and if you have a normally modeled brain, there is no free will, Epperson said.
"We have physicists like (David) Finkelstein who has been working from the bottom up, looking at quantum mechanics in terms of the role of logical structure and then others working on looking at the broader more accessible aspects," Epperson said.
The grant not only enables Epperson to further research the area he is interested in, but it makes Sac State recognition possible.
Epperson plans to bring an international conference to Sac State. This type of conference costs over $28,000 and is the type that only schools such as Columbia University host.
"We are trying to lay the foundations of a long-standing research project and house it here at Sac State, so we want to have these conferences - maybe annually," Epperson said.
The conference is tentatively planned for the spring of 2009 and will bring in exprets in the fileds of philosophy, neurology, physics and others from around the world. In addition, Epperson is planning smaller events for the departments at the school.
The smaller events will allow the philosophy and physics departments at Sac State to converse about topics that interlace in their fields.
Epperson said the research project may run into problems due to the current budget crisis. If the project is kept at Sac State, the school will receive a portion of the grant.
While the grant is only funding the first year of the project, Epperson does not anticipate this being a single-year project.
"If this propels the institution's agenda, I don't think it's something they will stop funding," Epperson said. "The huge question is where the project will make its home."
Epperson estimates that he is currently investing up to 100 hours of work per week on the project and his job as a part-time faculty member. Once things are settled with the project, he hopes to only spend an estimated 30 hours per week on research and writing.
Epperson teaches Introduction to Philosophy and Early Modern Philosophy. He said that without his students, his research would not be what it now is.
"I can't tell you the number of times questions come up in class and great ideas come out. They get me thinking about the problems in a different way," Epperson said. "It's not an impediment; if anything, it energizes me and helps me to investigate problems in a different way. The amount of teaching and research I have is the magic combination."
Epperson's students feel equal admiration when it comes to their professor.
Junior philosophy major Lyndsay Quiring changed her entire schedule in order to take Epperson's class this semester.
"He has a broader base of current real-life application of the subject in our class," Quiring said. "It's hard to tie ancient philosophy into modern day, but he was able to do that very well last term and this term."
Quiring said the project will be beneficial to not only the school, but to the faculty as well.
"I know the faculty is very dedicated and passionate, but sometimes it's difficult when they don't get recognition," Quiring said. "This will help to bring a brighter light to Sac State and more means, so we can develop the philosophy department."
Epperson also sees the faculty at Sac State as a valuable resource.
"Some people look at teaching as getting in the way of your research. That's why at these bigger schools you only teach two classes, then go write a book," Epperson said. "At Sac State, full-time faculty teach four classes a semester. I think the emphasis on teaching is wonderful."
Aside from teaching, writing and researching, Epperson was involved in the making of the 2005 History Channel documentary "The 11th Day," and his second documentary, "Outpost Harry," which has yet to be completed.
Amanda Pollard can be reached at apollard@statehornet.com.
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