J. O. and Juliette Koepfli Professor of Philosophy
A.B., Princeton University, 1986; M.A. (Philosophy); M.A. (Mathematics), University of Pittsburgh,
1990; Ph.D., 1993. Associate Professor, Caltech, 1998-2002; Professor, 2002-14; Koepfli Professor,
2014-; Executive Officer, 2018-22.
Christopher Hitchcock is a philosopher of science whose research explores the variety of causal concepts that are deployed in the sciences, law, and everyday life. Hitchcock has worked on a number of other topics in philosophy including philosophy of biology, formal epistemology, experimental philosophy, and philosophy of language. His research is interdisciplinary, and he has published work in computer science, law, linguistics, and psychology.
Before joining Caltech, Hitchcock was on the faculty at Rice University from 1993 to 1998. He's had three articles selected by The Philosopher's Annual as among the year's 10 best in the field of philosophy (in 1995, 2001, and 2003). He has also received the Recent Ph.D. Essay Award from the Philosophy of Science Association, given for the best paper by a recent Ph.D. (in 1997–1998). He served on the governing board of the Philosophy of Science Association from 2002 to 2005 and was the president of the Society for Exact Philosophy from 2012 to 2014.
Research Summary
Causation; Explanation; Formal Epistemology; Philosophy of Science
Selected Awards
Philosophers' Annual ten best philosophy papers of the year 1995
Philosophy of Science Association prize for best paper by a recent PhD, 1998
Philosophers' Annual ten best philosophy papers of the year 2001
Philosophers' Annual ten best philosophy papers of the year 2003
External Affiliations
Journal of Causal Inference, Associate Editor
Philosophers' Annual, Nominating Editor
Philosophical Gourmet Report, Advisory Board
Philosophy of Science Association, Governing Board 2002–2005
Society for Exact Philosophy, Vice President 2010–2012; President 2012–2014
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Editorial Board
Curriculum Vitae