The Problem of the Earth’s Figure: Measurement, Theory, and Evidence in Physical Geodesy
My PhD project explores the history of physical geodesy through an in-depth study of its foundational problem: theoretically deriving and empirically measuring the Earth's figure. I present a novel historical analysis of this history and highlight the problem's central role in the histories of gravitational physics, statistics, and modern earth science, as well as its unique importance for our epistemological understanding of measurement, statistical inference, and theory-testing.
Different geodetic measurement operations sketched in: Pierre Bouguer and Charles-Marie de La Condamine in La figure de la terre, Paris 1749.
Hydrostatic derivation of planetary equilibrium figure in: Alexis Clairaut, Théorie de la figure de la terre : tirée des principes de l'hydrostatique, Paris 1743.
Published research from this project:
Newton as Geodesist: The Problem of the Earth's Figure and the Argument for Universal Gravitation.* Newsletter of the American Physical Society 31 (2022). short & long versions.
*Winner of the 2022 APS History and Philosophy of Physics Essay Price
Pluralizing Measurement: Physical Geodesy’s Measurement Problem and its Resolution, 1880-1924. Studies in the History and Philosophy of Science A 96 (2022), 51-67.*
*Winner of the 2021 Du Châtelet Price in Philosophy of Physics
The Epistemic Privilege of Measurement: Motivating a Functionalist Account. Philosophy of Science (forthcoming). philsci-archive preprint.
The Promises and Pitfalls of Precision: Random and Systematic Error in Physical Geodesy, 1800-1910. Annals of Science. S.I.: Promises of Precision (forthcoming).
How Incoherent Measurement Succeeds: Coordination and Success in the Measurement of the Earth’s Polar Flattening. Studies in the History and Philosophy of Science A 88 (2021), 45-62.
Why does measurement need an epistemology and what could it look like? Elucidations: Philosophy Blog by the University of Chicago (2021)