November 2014 - philphysmunich

Talks by Renato Renner (Nov. 17), Michael Stoeltzner (Nov. 19), and Chris Fuchs (Nov. 20) at LMU next week
by Michael Cuffaro Nov. 25, 2014

Nov. 25, 2014

Speaker: Renato Renner (ETH Zürich) Date: Monday, 17 November 2014 Location: H030, Fakultät für Physik der LMU, Schellingstr. 4 Time: 17:15 - 19:00 Title: Is the wave function in one-to-one correspondence with reality? Abstract: The old question (considered already by Einstein) whether the quantum-mechanical wave function represents "reality" has recently attracted renewed interest. Amazingly, modern approaches inspired by Quantum Information Theory can provide answers. In my talk, I will provide an overview on them, focusing on a recent result that establishes a one-to-one correspondence between the wave function and the “elements of reality”. --------------------------------------- Speaker: Michael Stoeltzner (University of South Carolina/CAS/MCMP) Date: Wednesday, November 19 2014. Location: Ludwigstr. 31, ground floor, room 021 Time: 16:15 - 18:00 Title: The Varieties of Explanation in the Higgs Sector Abstract: I argue that there is no single universal conception of scientific explanation that is consistently employed throughout Higgs physics – ranging from the successful search for a standard model (SM) Higgs particle and the hitherto unsuccessful searches beyond it, to phenomenological model builders in the Higgs sector and theoretical physicists interested in the Higgs mechanism. But the coexistence of deductive-statistical, unificationist, model-based, and statistical-relevance explanations does not amount to a fragmentation of the discipline, but allows elementary particle physicists to simultaneously pursue a plurality of research strategies and keep the field together by joint convictions about the SM and shared explanatory ideals. Most importantly, the SM represents both a successful explanation and contains aspects in need of further explanation. Such explanatory ideals typically appear as stories or narratives motivating the different models and linking them to the whole of the discipline. --------------------------------------- Speaker: Chris Fuchs (University of Massachusetts at Boston) Date: Thursday, November 20, 2014 Location: Ludwigstr. 31, ground floor, room 021 Time: 18:15 - 20:00 Title: QBism, a Subjective Way to Take Ontic Indeterminism Dead Seriously Abstract: The term QBism, invented in 2009, initially stood for Quantum Bayesianism, a view of quantum theory a few of us had been developing since 1993. Eventually, however, I. J. Good's warning that there are 46,656 varieties of Bayesianism came to bite us, with some Bayesians feeling their good name had been hijacked. David Mermin suggested that the B in QBism should more accurately stand for "Bruno", as in Bruno de Finetti, so that we would at least get the variety of (subjective) Bayesianism right. The trouble is QBism incorporates a kind of metaphysics that even Bruno de Finetti might have rejected! So, trying to be as true to our story as possible, we momentarily toyed with the idea of associating the B with what Chief Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. called bettabilitarianism. It is the idea that the world is loose at the joints, that indeterminism plays a real role in the world. In the face of such a world, what is an active agent to do but /participate/ in the uncertainty that is all around him? As Louis Menand put it, "We cannot know what consequences the universe will attach to our choices, but we can bet on them, and we do it every day." This is what QBism says quantum theory is about: How to best place bets on the consequences of our actions in this quantum world. But what an ugly, ugly word, "bettabilitarianism"! Therefore, maybe one should just think of the B as standing for no word in particular, but a deep idea instead: That the world is so wired that our actions as active agents actually /matter/. Our actions and their consequences are not eliminable epiphenomena. In this talk, I will describe QBism as it presently stands and give some indication of the many things that remain to be developed. NOTE that Chris Fuchs' talk will follow one by Joseph Berkovitz (University of Toronto) on "A New Interpretation of De Finetti’s Theory of Subjective Probability" from 16:00 - 18:00 (more details at: http://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/events/calendar/index.html)

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Re: Winter Term 2014/5 Philosophy of Physics Reading Group
by Fletcher, Samuel Nov. 24, 2014

Nov. 24, 2014

Dear Colleagues (with apologies for cross-posting), This is just a reminder that the first meeting of the philosophy of physics reading group will be 14 October. The first reading will be the extended version of Mark Wilson's "What is 'Classical Mechanics' Anyway?" which is forthcoming in his anthology "Physics Avoidance and other Essays". (An abridged version appeared in "The Oxford Handbook in Philosophy of Physics", edited by R. Batterman.) You can access the essay here: http://www.philosophy.pitt.edu/sites/default/files/whatisclassicalmechanics… Although it is not technical, the article is long and Wilson's unique writing style demands close attention. Thus I'd recommend starting a bit earlier in order to be prepared for the 14th. I'll lead discussion that day. I'd like to ask at the outset, though, whether everyone would be interested in extending the discussion of the topic into the summer term. Currently, we have 7 meetings planned for this term, which will make it difficult to cover a great many of the topics in which you've expressed interest. With the summer term I estimate we can have another 6 meetings. Please let me know if you have an opinion on this one way or another. If general opinion is overwhelming in one direction or another, I'll finalize the syllabus for the rest of the meetings and send it out. Otherwise we'll make a decision during the first meeting. Best wishes, ~Sam On 2014-09-29 15:40, Fletcher, Samuel wrote: > Dear Colleagues (with apologies for cross-posting), > > The philosophy of physics reading group in the winter term will meet > biweekly on Tuesdays, starting 14 October, from 14:00-16:00, in E341 > of the main university building: > > https://lsf.verwaltung.uni-muenchen.de/qisserver/rds?state=verpublish&statu…. > > We will focus on topics in the foundations of classical mechanics, > especially different formulations of classical mechanics, their > interrelations, and their physical and metaphysical presuppositions. > As convener, I will send out a tentative syllabus around 7 October. > Until then, potentially interested participants are encouraged to > suggest stimulating papers. > > Best wishes, > Sam Fletcher

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CfP: 1st Munich Graduate Workshop in Mathematical Philosophy: Philosophy of Physics (LMU Munich, 9 - 11 April 2015)
by Brian Padden Nov. 18, 2014

Nov. 18, 2014

********************************************* 1ST MUNICH GRADUATE WORKSHOP IN MATHEMATICAL PHILOSOPHY: PHILOSOPHY OF PHYSICS LMU Munich 9 - 11 April 2015 www.lmu.de/graduateworkshop2015 www.facebook.com/events/1491788487773776/ ********************************************* The Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP) is organizing the first Munich Graduate Workshop in Mathematical Philosophy 9 - 11 April 2015. The workshop is intended for masters and doctoral students with interests in the philosophical foundations of physics. The program will feature student presentations, keynote lectures, and `working groups’ on advanced material at the forefront of contemporary research. We invite submissions of 1000 word extended abstracts together with a short abstract, motivation letter, CV and reference letter. The submission deadline is 1st December 2014 and notification of acceptance can be expected by 19th December. Please visit the website fore more details. KEYNOTE LECTURES: Harvey Brown (Oxford), Rüdiger Schack (London), Charlotte Werndl (Salzburg) INTERNAL LECTURES: Erik Curiel, Michael Cuffaro, Radin Dardashti, Samuel Fletcher, Paula Reichert, Karim Thébault ORGANIZERS: Brian Padden, Patricia Palacios, Karim Thébault *********************************************

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Call for Abstracts (with updated submission timetable): Quantum Computation, Quantum Information, and the Exact Sciences (LMU Munich, 30 - 31 January 2015)
by Michael Cuffaro Nov. 10, 2014

Nov. 10, 2014

********************************************* CONFERENCE: QUANTUM COMPUTATION, QUANTUM INFORMATION, AND THE EXACT SCIENCES LMU Munich 30 - 31 January 2015 www.qcompinfo2015.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de ********************************************* We invite submissions from both philosophers and scientists exploring the connections between the philosophy and foundations of quantum computation and quantum information theory (QCIT), and more traditional philosophical and foundational questions in physics, computer science, information theory, and mathematics. Envisioned topics for contributed papers include: QCIT's relevance for our understanding of the structure and axiomatics of quantum theory, QCIT's relevance for our understanding of physical conceptions of computation and/or information, alternative formalisms and mathematical frameworks for characterising QCIT, methodological differences and commonalities between QCIT and more traditional approaches to the exact sciences, and the metaphysical significance (or lack thereof) of the concepts and operational definitions of QCIT. This list is not exhaustive. DATES OF THE CONFERENCE: January 30-31, 2015. LOCATION: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Hans J. Briegel, University of Innsbruck, Austria and the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Austria. Leah Henderson, Center for Formal Epistemology, Carnegie Mellon University, United States of America. Christopher Timpson, Brasenose College, University of Oxford, United Kingdom. ORGANIZERS: Michael Cuffaro (Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy), Samuel Fletcher (Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy), Johannes Kofler (Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics). INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION: Submissions, consisting of one short (max. 100 word) and one extended (750-1000 word) abstract, will be double-blind reviewed and should be submitted through our automated submission system (EasyChair): https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=qcompinfo2015 Please prepare your submission for blind review by removing any identifying information from both your short and long abstract. Your short abstract should be pasted directly into the text box provided on the submission form. Your long abstract should be saved as a PDF document and uploaded via the "Upload a Paper" interface on the submission form. Do not tick the "Abstract Only" check box. Note: you will be able to revise your submission any number of times before the submission deadline. SUBMISSION DEADLINE (UPDATED): November 20, 2014 at 11:55PM (GMT). NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE (UPDATED): December 5, 2014. REGISTRATION FEE: 50€ regular fee, 30€ for graduate students. The conference language is English.

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Winter Term 2014/5 Philosophy of Physics Reading Group
by Fletcher, Samuel Nov. 10, 2014

Nov. 10, 2014

Dear Colleagues, This is just a reminder that our next meeting will be from 14:15-15:45 tomorrow in room E341 in the main university building. I'll be leading discussion on the remainder (section 4) of J. Butterfield's manuscript, "Between Laws and Models: Some Philosophical Morals of Lagrangian Mechanics." (Again, you can find the most up-to-date version of it on the Pitt PhilSci Archive (http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/1937/) or on the arXiv (http://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0409030).) We'll also vote on what to read for the meeting after that, which will be in two weeks (25/11). Best wishes, ~Sam

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