Contact Information
- Soazig Le Bihan
- LA 149
- Phone: (406) 243 6233
- Fax: (406) 243-4076
- Email: soazig.lebihan@umontana.edu
- Office Hours:
Summer 2023
Office hours:
Drop-in: Tuesdays, 12-1PM
By Appointments: Tuesdays 1-6PM.
Please schedule your appointment on Navigate: https://umt.campus.eab.com/pal/3mvNN-rH3x
Select "Academic Advising" for the "Unit" and "Pre-Law Advising" for the "Service".
Pre-Law advising appointments will take place in person in LA 149 or in the Pre-Law Advising Zoom room:
https://umontana.zoom.us/j/95071666751?pwd=YkZzVVlwV3pwYzhzZzJueS9JSHBHUT09
Meeting ID: 950 7166 6751
Passcode: UMPrelaw - URL: personal website
- Curriculum Vitae: View/Download CV
Personal Summary
I am a Professor of Philosophy, Co-director of our Master's Program in Environmental Philosophy, and Director of the Pre-Law Program at the University of Montana. I am an Agrégée in Philosophy and a former student of the Ecole Normale Supérieure.
Education
- Ph.D. Philosophy: University of Nancy and Bielefeld University
- Ecole Normale Supérieure Alumna
- B.S. Fundamental Physics: University of Paris VI, Jussieu.
- DEA, Philosophy, Université Sorbonne -- Paris IV
- Maîtrise, Philosophy, Université Nanterre -- Paris X
- B.A. Philosophy, Université Sorbonne -- Paris I
Courses Taught
Teaching: Philosophy of Science, Modern Philosophy, Philosophy of Law, Animals
I have taught classes in Modern philosophy, philosophy of science, the foundations of ecology, philosophy of law, and philosophy of animals. I employ active learning strategies in my teaching. I also focus on engaged philosophy in my courses. I am the 2024 recipient of the Outstanding Teaching Award and the William Reynolds Award for Excellence in Teaching Across the Curriculum. I have also won a Promoting Intellectual Excellence Award from the DHC 5 years in a row.
PHL 110E Introduction to Engaged Ethics (online, service component)
PHL 262Y Modern Philosophy
PHL 317E Law and Morality
PHL 319E Law and Discrimination
PHL 448/548 Philosophy and Animals
PHL 508 Philosophy of Law
PHL510 Philosophy Colloquium
HONR 391 Pre-Law Seminar
Field of Study
- Philosophy of science
- Philosophy of physics
- Philosophy of ecology
- Philosophy of law
Selected Publications
I have been conducting research in the philosophy of science for more than 15 years. I have published articles on the interpretation of quantum mechanics, scientific modeling, dissent in science, science and values, and edited a public-facing volume providing a survey of issues in philosophy of physics (in French). I am currently working on a book with Armond Duwell on scientific understanding, in which we explain how the great diversity of scientific practices provides understanding as they contribute possible solutions to relevant problems.
- (work in progress) Scientific Understanding: The Problems and Possibilities View
- (work in progress) A Fiduciary Model of Public Trust in Value-Laden Science
- (2023) How to Not Secure Public Trust in Science; Representative Values v. Polarization and Marginalization, Philosophy of Science.
- (2019) Partial truth versus felicitous falsehoods. Synthese. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-019-02413-4
- (2017) Epistemically Detrimental Dissent: Contingent Enabling Factors vs Stable Different Makers. Philosophy of Science (with Iheanyi Amadi).
- (2017) Enlightening Falsehood: A modal view of scientific understanding. In Explaining Understanding: Perspectives From Epistemology and Philosophy of Science, ed. by Grimm, Stephen R., Christoph Baumberger, and Sabine Ammon, Routledge.
- (2014), How Understanding Matters – Or not. in Probing the Meaning of Quantum Mechanics: Physical, Philosophical, Mathematical, and Logical Perspectives, ed. by C. de Ronde, S. Aerts, D. Aerts, World Scientific. pp. 127-42
- (2013) Précis de Philosophie de la Physique, Vuibert.
- (2011) "Defending the Semantic View: What it Takes," European Journal for Philosophy of Science, 2(3) (2011): 249-274.
- (2009) "Fine's Ways to Fail to Secure Local Realism," Studies in the History and Philosophy of Modern Physics, 40(2) (2009): 142-150.
Publications
Honors / Awards
- 2024. William Reynolds Award for Excellence in Teaching Across the Curriculum
- 2024. Distinguished Teaching Award.
- 2024. Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award, finalist.
- 2024. Davidson Honors College Promoting Intellectual Engagement (PIE) Award.
- 2023. Davidson Honors College Promoting Intellectual Engagement (PIE) Award.
- 2022. Davidson Honors College Promoting Intellectual Engagement (PIE) Award.
- 2021. Davidson Honors College Promoting Intellectual Engagement (PIE) Award.
- 2021. Sustainability Award
- 2020. Davidson Honors College Promoting Intellectual Engagement (PIE) Award.
- 2019. Davidson Honors College Promoting Intellectual Engagement (PIE) Award.
- 2017. Outstanding Faculty Advising Award.
- 2016. Merit Increase. University of Montana.
- 2016. Invited Professor, LabeX TransferS, Equippe république des savoirs, Ecole normale supérieure, Paris.
- 2014. Merit Increase. University of Montana.
- 2013. International Activity Grant. University of Montana.
- 2012. Student Affairs Faculty Award. University of Montana.
- 2011. Visiting Fellow: Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh
- 2011. Faculty Professional Enhancement Grant. University of Montana.
- 2011. Merit Increase. University of Montana.
- 2006-2008. Sawyier Predoctoral Fellowship. Illinois Institute of Technology.
- 2005. DAAD Fellowship.
- 2005. Fellowship Université Franco-Allemande.
- 2004-2005. Graduate Fellowship. Bielefeld University.
- 2004. Huguette Delavault Fellowship. Association des Femmes Françaises Diplomées de l’Université.
- 2004. Conference Expenses Graduate Fellowship. 13th UK Meeting on the Foundations of Physics, York.
- 2003. Travel Grant. Comité National de Philosophie et d’Histoire des Sciences, LMPS, Congress, Oviedo.
- 2002-2005. Mobility Graduate Fellowship “co-tutelle de thèse”. European Union.
- 2001-2002. Jane Eliza Procter Visiting Fellowship. Princeton University.
Hobbies
Public Philosophy
I believe public philosophy is critical even if challenging. Check out my public outreach page if you are interested.
University of Montana Pre-Law Program
I am also the Director of the Pre-Law Program at the University of Montana, which I founded and build. I get to help and mentor some of the most wonderful human beings I have known doing so. Please go to the UM Pre-Law Program website for more information.
Diversity and Inclusion
I believe it is my responsibility as a person with tremendous privilege and in a position of relative power to be an ally and amplify the voices of historically marginalized populations. I have been a member of the Philosophy of Science Association's Women Caucus, now D.E.I. Caucus since 2008. I have working on the Underrepresented Scholars in Philosophy of Science initiative since its inception.
Environmental Advocacy
I am committed to do my part to mitigate some of the effects of the climate crisis. I have served on the Philosophy of Science Association's Sustainability Committee since its inception. I also serve as the co-director of our Master's Program in Environmental Philosophy at the University of Montana. I was the recipient of the University of Montana Sustainability Award at the University of Montana in 2021. In 2025, I will be organizing the ISEE conference in Missoula. I am also a member of Philosophers for Sustainability and I serve on the Program Committee for the 2025 Central APA conference which will take place fully online to mitigate some of the philosophy community's carbon footprint. Finally, I volunteer and serve as vice-chair of the Board of Directors for Animal Wonders.
Finally, if you would like a little bit of background, feel free to check out my personal story.