May 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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Topical Issue of *Synthese* Call for Papers: "All Things Reichenbach"
by Erik Curiel May 25, 2020

May 25, 2020

[Please forward to lists and your colleagues as you feel appropriate.] Topical Issue of *Synthese* Call for Papers: "All Things Reichenbach" Guest Editors: Erik Curiel Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy, LMU Munich Black Hole Initiative, Harvard University http://strangebeautiful.com Flavia Padovani English and Philosophy Department, Drexel University, Philadelphia http://flaviapadovani.org/ Topical Collection Description: Hans Reichenbach is among the most important philosophers of science of the Twentieth Century and without doubt one of the most prominent philosophers of physics of the first half of the past century. His work has ramified in fundamental ways into virtually every major debate in the philosophy of science and physics. While Reichenbach's philosophical project is no longer seen as viable as a whole, his work continues to be influential often in unnoticed but deep ways. Although many of his ideas still retain their interest and are discussed in current philosophy of science, he remains, in fact, one of the least understood and least carefully studied philosophical thinkers of his time. Because his own work has not been well understood, his influence is not widely recognized. The primary aim of this collection is to fill this gap by illuminating his contributions to advances in many fields in philosophy, and his legacy in the context of current philosophical research across the discipline as a whole. The theme of the collection, therefore, will be an investigation of his work both in its own context and in its continuing contemporary influence in current philosophy. This collection aims, moreover, at reviving the tradition of inter-disciplinary collaboration that was at the heart of Reichenbach's vision for intellectual work, promoting the cross-pollination of ideas that discussion across traditional disciplinary boundaries can create and so exploring ways in which his insights can continue to be valuable in current scientific and formal approaches to philosophy. It is, in that spirit, a sequel to the conference "All Things Reichenbach" that took place at the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (LMU Munich) in July 2019 (http://www.lmu.de/reichenbach2019) Appropriate topics for submission include, among others: 1. geometry, space and relativity 2. the relativized a priori and conventionalism 3. coordination and measurement 4. causality and time 5. statistical mechanics and thermodynamics 6. realism, empiricism and scientific philosophy 7. reasoning, induction and confirmation 8. logic and probability Any other topic related to Reichenbach is also welcome. As emphasized above, submitted papers can focus on Reichenbach's own work in its historical context, on the influence of his work in contemporary debates, or on approaches to contemporary problems inspired by his work. It is the aim of the editors that the selected papers will complement each other, both within each category and across categories. The link for submitting your manuscript to *Synthese*, along with instructions for doing so, will be sent soon in a subsequent posting. For further information, please contact the guest editors: Erik Curiel <erik.curiel(a)lmu.de> Flavia Padovani <flavia.padovani(a)drexel.edu> The deadline for submissions is 15 November 2020. Erik Curiel, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat, Munich, Germany Flavia Padovani, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA -- 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 -- 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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Fwd: (SILFS-L) CFP: XXIII International Summer School in Philosophy of Physics - Philosophy of Quantum Computation - University of Urbino
by Michael Cuffaro May 13, 2020

May 13, 2020

Of possible interest to some: -------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: (SILFS-L) CFP: XXIII International Summer School in Philosophy of Physics - Philosophy of Quantum Computation - University of Urbino Date: Tue, 12 May 2020 12:56:30 +0200 From: Graziani, Pierluigi <pierluigi.graziani(a)uniurb.it> To: SILFS-L(a)list.cineca.it, SILFS-NOTIZIE <silfs-notizie(a)googlegroups.com> *Call for Participation* and *Call for Papers* The Inter-University Center for Philosophy and Foundations of Physics (CIRFIS), the Department of Pure and Applied Sciences of the University of Urbino Carlo Bo and the Italian Society for Logic and Philosophy of Science (SILFS) are glad to present: XXIII International Summer School in Philosophy of Physics PHILOSOPHY OF QUANTUM COMPUTATION 15-18 June 2020, University of Urbino, Italy Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, it will be impossible to host the XXIII International Summer School in Philosophy of Physics in Urbino. For this reason, we have decided to move the school online and make it free of charge. We know that Summer Schools are occasions to spend time together with other students and researchers, and it is difficult to create the same environment at a distance. Nevertheless, we want to offer to the international community an occasion of "meeting" online and discussing thrilling foundational issues, despite these dire times. We will try our best to create an enjoyable and instructive experience for all participants. The topic of the school is the “Philosophy of Quantum Computation”, and it will feature lectures by Roberto Giuntini (University of Cagliari & Centro Linceo Interdisciplinare "Beniamino Segre"), Maria Luisa Dalla Chiara (University of Florence), Michael Cuffaro (Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy), Giuseppe Sergioli (University of Cagliari); and seminars by Rossella Lupacchini (University of Bologna), and Gustavo Martin Bosyk (University of Cagliari). The deadline for applications is the 24th of May, 2020. The School is free of charge and everybody is welcome to attend. Nonetheless, an application is required in order to participate. Moreover, we have reserved three slots in the program of the Summer School for young scholars interested in presenting their research. We strongly encourage submissions from women and other underrepresented groups in Philosophy of Science. The details of the application process and the full program of the School can be found at: https://sites.google.com/site/centroricerchecirfis/xxiiisummerschool_philos… For further information please write to: cirfis.scuolaestiva(a)gmail.com <mailto:cirfis.scuolaestiva@gmail.com>

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