February 2020 - philphysmunich

CfP: Synthese Topical Collection: "Simplicity out of Complexity? Physics and the Aims of Science"
by Florian J Boge Sept. 15, 2020

Sept. 15, 2020

Call for Papers Synthese Topical Collection on Simplicity out of Complexity? Physics and the Aims of Science Deadline: 31 July 2020 Guest Editors Florian J. Boge (University of Wuppertal) Paul Grünke (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) Martin King (University of Bonn) Miguel Ángel Carretero Sahuquillo (University of Wuppertal) * Description The world we live in is notoriously complex: there is an outright zoo of material particles, a vast variety of different species, a whole plethora of stars and galaxies, and so forth. Yet many scientific achievements, such as the Standard Model of particle physics or Darwin’s theory of natural selection, allow us to manage part of this complexity by means of a simple set of laws or general rules. Simplicityhas often been assumed to be an epistemic ideal, most clearly exemplified in physics, with its trend towards encompassing theories that feature only a small number of fundamental laws, capable of explaining a large number of diverse phenomena. This view of science, with physics at the center stage, has arguably provided the dominant narrative in mainstream philosophy of science throughout the 20thcentury. Yet many questions arise when one zooms in on the details. For instance: in what sense can the laws of physics be said to be simple, when concrete computations based on them are tedious or even impossible? How do notions of simplicity differ across the sciences, and what are their commonalities? Does the striving for simplification of perceived complexity imply an unjustifiedreductionism? Is simplicity really an epistemic ideal or just endorsed for pragmatic reasons, and maybe even an unreliable guide to truth? If so, what should it be replaced with? The aim of this Topical Collection is to bring together contributions from different fields, such as (the philosophy of) physics, biology, economy, psychology, linguistics, or general philosophy of science. Topics may include but are not limited to: • epistemic vs. practical: Is simplicity an epistemic goal of science or just a practical benefit? (Why) should theories aim for simplicity, or (why) not? • physics vs. other sciences: Does the complexity of the world largely preclude simple science? Is complexity also an aim of the special sciences? Does contemporary physics really aim at simplicity? • the concept of simplicity in science: What does it mean to be a ‘simple’ theory? What is simplicity? Can there be a unified account of simplicity or should one embrace pluralism? We invite contributions from the full spectrum of disciplines and their respective philosophies, scientists and scholars reflecting on their respective and neighboring research fields, as well as historians, philosophers and sociologists of science investigating the epistemologies, practices, and discourses of fellow epistemic communities. * For further information, please contact the guest editors: o Florian J. Boge fjboge(a)uni-wuppertal.de <mailto:fjboge@uni-wuppertal.de> o Paul Grünke paul.gruenke(a)kit.edu <mailto:paul.gruenke@kit.edu> o Martin Kingmking(a)uni-bonn.de <mailto:mking@uni-bonn.de> o Miguel Ángel Carretero Sahuquillo carreterosahuqu(a)uni-wuppertal.de <mailto:carreterosahuqu@uni-wuppertal.de> * The deadline for submissions is 31 July 2020 Submit your paper through the Synthese Editorial Manager under a dedicated heading entitled "T.C.: Simplicity out of Complexity? Physics and the Aim of Science". Please visit Editorial Manager® <https://www.editorialmanager.com/synt>and select this heading when submitting the manuscript. Submitted papers will be peer-reviewed as per usual journal practice. At least two reviewers will be assigned to each paper and final decisions will be taken by Synthese Editors in Chief, following the recommendation of the Guest Editors, which is based on the reviewers’ reports. Please prepare papers for anonymous reviews.

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Call for participation: Mathematics and Analogical Reasoning, 11-12 September, 2020 at LMU Munich
by Erik Curiel Feb. 22, 2020

Feb. 22, 2020

Call for participation: Mathematics and Analogical Reasoning, 11-12 September, 2020 at LMU Munich ********************************************* The Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy invites registrations for the following event: Mathematics and Analogical Reasoning MCMP, LMU Munich 11-12 September, 2020 https://silviajonas.wixsite.com/mathematicsanalogies ********************************************* IDEA & MOTIVATION: The goal of this conference is to investigate the role of mathematics as a heuristic device for analogical reasoning in science and philosophy. QUESTIONS we aim to address at the conference include (but are not limited to): ·How can a positive mathematical analogy generate support for a particular theoretical view about otherwise disconnected physical systems? ·Can we be sure that epistemic lessons from one domain carry over to another domain, given that there are always known points of disanalogy? If so, how? ·Does the fact that shared mathematical structures can generate new scientific insights have a bearing on (enhanced) indispensability arguments for mathematical realism? ·How can a mathematical analogy generate understanding of one system given our understanding of the model system? ·What is an adequate methodology for analogical reasoning about meta-empirical domains (like mathematics or ethics)? ·Are the mathematical background assumptions of recent arguments featuring mathematical analogies plausible (specifically in light of recent pluralist developments in set theory)? More Information is available on the conference website: https://silviajonas.wixsite.com/mathematicsanalogies. The conference also has a PhilEvents website: https://philevents.org/event/show/81150. REGISTRATION: In order to register please visit the conference website (https://silviajonas.wixsite.com/mathematicsanalogies) or contact Silvia Jonas (silvia.jonas(a)lmu.de <mailto:silvia.jonas@lmu.de>) for further information. ORGANIZERS: Silvia Jonas (MCMP/LMU Munich) Mark Colyvan (University of Sydney/MCMP) https://silviajonas.wixsite.com/mathematicsanalogies https://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/events/workshops/container/ana… https://philevents.org/event/show/81150 -- Erik Curiel http://strangebeautiful.com Assistant Professor Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy Lehrstuhl für Wissenschaftstheorie Fakultät für Philosophie, Wissenschaftstheorie und Religionswissenschaft Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Ludwigstraße 31 80539 München, Deutschland http://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de BHI Research Fellow Black Hole Initiative Harvard University http://bhi.fas.harvard.edu Research Fellow Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Radio and Geoastronomy Division https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/rg

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Cushing Prize 2020: Call for Nominations
by Neil Dewar Feb. 10, 2020

Feb. 10, 2020

From Don Howard: James T. Cushing Memorial Prize in History and Philosophy of Physics Call for Nominations We are pleased to announce the call for nominations for the 2020 Cushing Prize in History and Philosophy of Physics. Eligible for nomination are works by what we term “younger scholars,” meaning individuals who are within five years of the receipt of the Ph.D, and work in any area of the history and philosophy of physics may be nominated. Nominations should include a letter explaining the significance of the work that is being nominated, along with a copy of the work, in the case of an individual paper or set of papers, or a complete citation in the case of a book. Please also provide a copy of the nominee’s current cv. The deadline for the receipt of nominations is Sunday, March 15, 2020. Nominations should be sent to: cushpriz(a)nd.edu <mailto:cushpriz@nd.edu>. The winner will be announced on April 15, 2020. The prize winner will receive a $2,000 prize and an invitation to deliver a prize lecture at the University of Notre Dame in the Fall of 2020. Questions about the prize or the nomination process should be directed to either Don Howard (dhoward1(a)nd.edu <mailto:dhoward1@nd.edu>) or Mike Schneider (schneider.michael.d(a)gmail.com <mailto:schneider.michael.d@gmail.com>). Additional information about the prize, including a list of previous winners, can be found at: https://reilly.nd.edu/history-and-philosophy-of-science/cushing-prize/ <https://reilly.nd.edu/history-and-philosophy-of-science/cushing-prize/> The Cushing Prize Committee: Feraz Azhar, University of Notre Dame David Baker, University of Michigan Jeremy Butterfield, Cambridge University Adam Caulton, Oxford University Neil Dewar, University of Munich Hans Halvorson, Princeton University Don Howard, University of Notre Dame Eleanor Knox, Kings College London Cyrus Mody, Maastricht University Nic Teh, University of Notre Dame Giovanni Valente, Polytechnic University of Milan Charlotte Werndl, University of Salzburg

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2nd CFP - Sixth Spacetime Conference
by vpetkov＠minkowskiinstitute.org Feb. 1, 2020

Feb. 1, 2020

Second Call for Papers Sixth International Conference on the Nature and Ontology of Spacetime So far representatives of 17 countries have submitted abstracts When: 11-14 May 2020 Where: Albena (famous Black Sea resort near Varna), Bulgaria Website: http://www.minkowskiinstitute.org/conferences/2020/ Contact: 2020conference(a)minkowskiinstitute.org The Scientific Organizing Committee invites papers from physicists, philosophers of physics and philosophers on any topic related to the nature and ontology of spacetime. As there is no main theme of the sixth spacetime conference a number of special sessions have been suggested by colleagues (http://www.minkowskiinstitute.org/conferences/2020/call.html) - Nature of time - Flow of time; Becoming (continuation of the Special Session on Becoming and the panel discussion at the Second Hermann Minkowski Meeting on the Foundations of Spacetime Physics on Wednesday, May 15, 2019) - Is spacetime a real (physical) four-dimensional entity or a mathematical concept? - Open Questions in Spacetime Physics - The controversy over Relativistic Mass - The problem with the gravitational energy-momentum pseudotensor in general relativity - should we have a closer look at the fact that the mathematical formalism of general relativity does not yield a proper tensor of the gravitational energy-momentum? - What is the difference between matter and geometry in general relativity, semi-classical gravity, and quantum gravity? - Do Black Holes Actually Exist? - Is there a conflict between relativity and quantum mechanics? - Quantum Gravity: Where do we stand? Depending on the number of colleagues participating in a special session, we plan to publish a volume with the talks presented at the session, which will include constructive criticism and the replies of the authors. Contributed papers in the form of extended abstracts of between one and two pages should be emailed to 2020conference(a)minkowskiinstitute.org by February 28, 2020. Submissions will be reviewed and sending of notification of acceptance will start on February 17, 2020 (for the abstracts submitted by the original deadline January 31, 2020). Scientific Organizing Committee: Dennis Dieks (Utrecht University) Mauro Dorato (University of Rome Three) George F. R. Ellis (University of Cape Town) Robert Geroch (University of Chicago) Eleanor Knox (King's College London) Vesselin Petkov (Minkowski Institute, Montreal) Steven Savitt (University of British Columbia) Anguel Stefanov (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) James Owen Weatherall (University of California, Irvine) Christian Wuethrich (University of Geneva)

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