AcknowledgementsI would like to thank…my supervisor, Sergio Sismondo, for his insight and his patience.Lorne Maclachlan, for teaching me the essentials.Mark Smith, for both lecturing and listening.David Bakhurst, for metaphysics and beyond.Daryn Lehoux, for the ancient science angle.Wes Maciejewski, for giving me perspective.my friends from Queen’s, for everything from ARTS to Wittgenstein.my mom, dad and sister for their love and support.…and thanks to Jamie, my shining beacon