Michael Veldman
Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Veldman’s work focuses on the legacy of the 18th century Enlightenment. His research revolves around the relationship between metaphysics and natural science, and the ways that the mathematization of nature altered that relationship. Veldman’s dissertation approaches these questions by providing one of the first extended looks at the philosophical contributions of the great mathematician and physicist Leonhard Euler. Veldman’s interests in revisiting and changing traditional historical narratives led to a post-doctoral research fellowship with the Extending New Narratives in History of Philosophy project. His research project, at the University of Western Ontario, investigated Emilie Du Chatelet's influential contributions to the development of scientific method and the method of hypotheses. More recently, he has undertaken projects on questions related to the structure, organization, and efficacy of social movements.
Recent Courses Taught
Science, Ethics, and Politics of Climate Change
Constructing Social Reality
Research Interests
History and philosophy of science, early modern philosophy, social ontology
Selected Publications
- Mathematizing Metaphysics: The Case of the Principle of Least Action, Philosophy of Science, 91(2): 351-369 (2024).
Appointed to the Faculty
2025Educational Background
Ph.D. and M.A., Duke University
M.A., Tufts University
B.S., MIT
