PULLMAN – Scientific truth and the difference between what people know and what they think they know are the topics of a free, public lecture 2-4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7, in Wegner G-50. Space is limited.
A philosopher and scientist in the field of pharmacy, Philip D. Hansten will speak about “Premature Factulation/Philosophy and the Pharmacist.” He is a former pharmacy professor at WSU and a professor emeritus of pharmacy at the University of Washington, where he teaches the class, “The Nature of Scientific Truth.”
Hansten received his doctor of pharmacy degree in 1967 from the University of California at San Francisco and spent much of his career focused on drug interactions. His books have been translated into six languages; more than 1 million copies have been sold. He has lectured worldwide and testified before U.S. Congressional subcommittee hearings and the Federal Trade Commission.
In recent years, his work has moved away from drug interactions and into philosophy. He published his ninth book in 2009: “Premature Factulation: The Ignorance of Certainty and the Ghost of Montaigne.”
In 1989, Hansten received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of California at San Francisco School of Pharmacy. In 2007, he gave the commencement address to the graduating class of pharmacists there.
He was a pharmacy professor at WSU 1970-72 and again 1974-1989, when he joined the faculty at UW. He has been professor emeritus there since 2003.