Nancy Cartwright: Honorary Degree Citation

Nancy Cartwright is considered one of the most important and influential contemporary philosophers of science. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Illinois. After serving on the Stanford University faculty, she was appointed to her present position of professor in the Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method at the London School of Economics. Dr. Cartwright has produced path-breaking work on issues such as the nature of physical laws, causation and scientific reasoning. She is a pioneer of today’s practice-based philosophy of science and helped develop the philosophy of social policy, economics, sociology, medicine, epidemiology and political science. Dr. Cartwright is the author of seven books. She has served as president of the American Philosophical Association (Pacific Division), president of the Philosophy of Science Association and a Fellow of the British Academy. She has been elected to the American Philosophical Society, American Academy of Arts and Sciences and German Academy of Science. For her groundbreaking contributions to the understanding of philosophy and science, Southern Methodist University is honored to confer upon Nancy Cartwright the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.