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George Ellis was born on 11 August 1939 in Johannesburg, South Africa. -
In 1960 George Ellis graduated with his bachelor's degree of science in physics with distinction from the University of Cape Town. -
Four years after earning his bachelor's, George Ellis received a Ph.D. in applied maths and theoretical physics while attending Cambridge University. -
George Ellis has made significant contributions to the philosophy of science from the 1970s to the present day. His work spans a wide range of topics, including philosophy and foundations of physics, cosmology, emergence, and the nature of scientific knowledge. Some of his contributions include the integration of science and humanities, incompleteness and the limits of science, as well as realism and scientific methodology.
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This book, co-authored with Stephen Hawking, focused primarily on general relativity physics and the universe's structure. It's contributed to philosophy by examining the philosophical implications of general relativity, addressing questions of realism and determinism, exploring cosmological concepts, and shedding light on the methodology of scientific inquiry.
Hawking, S. W., and G. F. R. Ellis. The Large Scale Structure of Space-Time. Cambridge University Press, 1973. -
Ellis emphasizes that science has inherent limitations and cannot completely explain all aspects of reality. He acknowledges that science operates within specific domains, utilizing empirical observations, mathematical models, and experimental methods to study the natural world. He recognizes that science alone cannot address certain ethical and value-laden questions.
Ellis, George F. R. "On the Limits of Science." The Western Ontario Series in Philosophy of Science, vol. 32, 1988, pp. 7-24. -
George Ellis is awarded the Templeton prize for his work at the intersection of science and religion.
“George F. R. Ellis — Science and Hope.” The on Being Project, onbeing.org/programs/george-f-r-ellis-science-and-hope/. Accessed 4 June 2023. -
The paper explores the emergence and top-down causation, challenging reductionist approaches. It emphasizes the need for a more comprehensive and holistic understanding of scientific explanations. The paper underscores the significance of mechanisms and advocates for interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance our understanding of complex systems.
Ellis, George F R. “Top-down causation and emergence: some comments on mechanisms.” Interface focus vol. 2,1 (2012): 126-40. doi:10.1098/rsfs.2011.0062 -
Professor Ellis discusses the limits of scientific explanation, methods and experiments, multiverse ideas, the meaning of "casualty" in contemporary physics, and the cooperation of physics and cognitive science. Use the following link to watch the interview. https://youtu.be/IBYF_TLYQ8s