Areas of interest
Ancient science, mathematics, and philosophy; history and philosophy of science
Current research
My research examines the history, philosophy, and rhetoric of the ancient Greek physical and mathematical sciences, with a focus on the philosophical systems of ancient Greek mathematicians. My book, Ptolemy's Philosophy: Mathematics as a Way of Life, was shortlisted for the British Society for the History of Science's Pickstone Prize.
Selected publications
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"Ancient Greek Laws of Nature." Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 107 (Oct. 2024): 92-106.
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Ptolemy’s Philosophy: Mathematics as a Way of Life. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2018.
- “Meta-mathematical Rhetoric: Hero and Ptolemy against the Philosophers.” Historia Mathematica Vol. 41.3 (Aug. 2014): 261-276.
- “Mathematizing the Soul: The Development of Ptolemy’s Psychological Theory from On the Kritêrion and Hêgemonikon to the Harmonics.” Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 43.4 (Dec. 2012): 585-594.
- “Ptolemy’s Defense of Theoretical Philosophy.” Apeiron: A Journal for Ancient Philosophy and Science 45.1 (Jan. 2012): 61-90.
Selected grants, fellowships, awards
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2021-: Senior Fellowship, Massey College, University of Toronto.
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2017-2019: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insight Development Grant.
- 2012-2015: Harper-Schmidt Fellowship, Society of Fellows in the Liberal Arts, University of Chicago.
- 2013: Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Modern Geometry and the Concept of Space, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science.
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2009-2012: Postdoctoral Fellowship, Introduction to the Humanities Program, Stanford University
Affiliations
- Cross-appointed to the Department of Classical Studies
Contact information
jfeke@uwaterloo.ca
519-888-4567 x41256
Office: HH 326
Website