June 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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ILMPS 2020 postponed
by Giovanni Valente June 24, 2020

June 24, 2020

Due to the current Covid-19 emergency situation, the annual “Irvine-London-Munich-PoliMi-Salzburg Conference in Foundations and Philosophy of Physics” and the ensuing workshop “Mathematical Limits in Physics”, which were originally scheduled on September 2-4 in Milan, will be postponed to 2021. The new dates will be decided and communicated in due time. For more information about the activities of the ILMPS network visit the following link: https://ilmpsnetwork.wordpress.com/ Best regards, Giovanni Valente

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NEW DATES: Mathematics and Analogical Reasoning, 27-28 August, 2021 at LMU Munich
by Erik Curiel June 16, 2020

June 16, 2020

******************************************************************************************** The Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy invites registrations for the following event: Mathematics and Analogical Reasoning MCMP, LMU Munich 27-28 August, 2021 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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