Yian Chen

Yian Chen

PhD Candidate

Renmin University of China

I am a PhD candidate in Philosophy at Renmin University of China.

I am broadly interested in the philosophy of complex systems. Currently, my research focuses on various types of explanations (particularly non-mechanistic ones) for swarm intelligence. I have also worked on the intersection of causal inference and machine learning.

I aim to learn from working scientists and to examine the alignment between scientific practice and its philosophical interpretation. From 2024 to 2025, I was a visiting student in the Department of History & Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh, under the supervision of Sandra Mitchell. From June 8 to July 4, 2025, I participated in the Complex Systems Summer School organized by the Santa Fe Institute, engaging in interdisciplinary research in complexity science.

Interests
  • Philosophy of Complexity Science
  • Swarm Intelligence
  • Scientific Explanation and Causation
Education
  • PhD candidate in Philosophy of Science and Technology, Ongoing

    Renmin University of China

  • BA in Philosophy, 2021

    Northeastern University