James Robert Brown

James Robert Brown (born 1949) is a Canadian philosopher of science and an emeritus professor of philosophy at the University of Toronto. In the philosophy of mathematics, he has advocated mathematical Platonism, visual reasoning, and in the philosophy of science he has defended scientific realism mostly against anti-realist views associated with social constructivism. He has also argued for the socialization of medical research (especially pharmaceutical research). He is largely known for his work on thought experiments. He was elected to the Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in 2004, the Royal Society of Canada in 2007, and the Académie Internationale de Philosophie des Sciences in 2010. Brown was born in Montreal, Quebec. He is married to the philosopher Kathleen Okruhlik.