Scientific Philosophy
From the PhilPhys – Philosophy of Physics Mail Group, I received this (and I share the same thoughts on its rationale — “philosophical theses and arguments should be just as clear and precise as scientific ones”):
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Workshop on
Scientific Philosophy: Past and Future
Tuesday 13 April 2010
Tilburg University, The Netherlands
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Various philosophers of the past – and many philosophers of today – believe that there can be real progress in philosophy and that such progress is facilitated crucially by a close interaction between philosophy and the sciences. “Scientific Philosophy” maintains that philosophical theses and arguments should be just as clear and precise as scientific ones; philosophers ought to build theories and models much as scientists do; and the application of mathematical methods as well as input from empirical studies are often necessary in order to gain new insights into old philosophical questions and to progress to new and deeper ones. This workshop will address what Scientific Philosophy is all about, what it has in common with science and where it might diverge from it, what we can learn from its historical successes and failures, and, most importantly, how we should assess its future prospects.
The invited speakers include:
Michael Friedman, Stanford
Christopher Hitchcock, Caltech
Volker Peckhaus, Paderborn
Organizers:
Stephan Hartmann, Tilburg
Hannes Leitgeb, Bristol
Jan Sprenger, Tilburg
There’ll be three to four slots for contributed papers. If you are interested in presenting something, please send an extended abstract of up to 1500 words to TiLPS@uvt.nl by 15 January 2010. Decisions will be made by 1 February 2010.
There is no registration fee. However, participants have to register by sending an email to TiLPS@uvt.nl by 15 March 2010.
The workshop takes place on the day before the conference “The Future of Philosophy of Science”. Check.
October 12, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Hi Christine,
This new initiative sounds intriguing and one very central to my own conception of how philosophy and science should actually be considered. That’s to say if you focus on the roots of western philosophy and that of science you will find them to be largely indistinguishable and inseparable from one another. That is both are to serve as to provide an explanations of the world and its actions and they only needlessly separate when the significance of simply our species is taken as being both the central focus and intent of nature, rather then being simply one of its many wonderful consequences. In short what I mean to say, is that both are rendered useless when nature is forsaken as being our guide to truth when dictating nature must conform to our design rather than its own.
Best,
Phil
October 13, 2009 at 9:23 am
Thanks, Phil, your contributions enrich my otherwise dry posts; and I often share your thoughts.