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Second Call for contributions
by Vesselin Petkov Sept. 30, 2026

Sept. 30, 2026

Dear Colleagues, Minkowski Institute Press invites contributions to the volume "Truth in Physics: On the Nature of Physical Theories": https://www.minkowskiinstitute.com/mip/books/truthinphysics.html The reasons for publishing this volume are summarized below (and at the above site). Associated with the Minkowski Institute in Montreal, Minkowski Institute Press (https://www.minkowskiinstitute.com/mip/books/) is an academic publisher run by academics for academics. As of August 2026, it has published 102 books. As Minkowski Institute Press publishes valuable books that are out of print and are now in the public domain (the books are typeset in LaTeX), any suggestions for the publication of such books are always appreciated. If interested, reply to this message or to mip(a)minkowskiinstitute.com <mailto:mip@minkowskiinstitute.com> Best wishes, Vesselin Petkov One of the Founders and current director of Minkowski Institute https://www.minkowskiinstitute.com/ Montreal, Canada Personal Site: https://vesselinpetkov.com The main reason for this project (volume) is the concern that some meta-theoretical misconceptions might be behind the lack of major breakthroughs in fundamental physics as revolutionary as the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics despite the efforts of many brilliant physicists and the unprecedented advancements in applied physics and technology which made it possible to increase enormously the precision of experiments that can test new hypotheses in the search for more fundamental physics. An example of such misconceptions is the inadequate view on the nature of physical theories (held by some physicists) that physical theories are only descriptions of physical phenomena, which do not tell us anything certain about the world since different theories can provide different descriptions of the same phenomena. Part of the art of doing physics is to determine whether some theories are indeed "just descriptions" - like the Newtonian, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of classical mechanics - or represent real features of the world. Consider an even more specific example: starting with Hermann Minkowski, many physicists, mathematicians, and philosophers have regarded spacetime as a real four-dimensional world, whereas others, starting with Poincaré, have viewed it as a 'mathematical continuum.' Those who argued - explicitly or implicitly - that spacetime is not physically real because it is nothing more than a mathematical space fail to answer even a self-evident question: How could a mathematician announce the introduction of a mere mathematical space with such excitement?

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Minkowski Institute Press offers free ebooks
by Vesselin Petkov Aug. 17, 2026

Aug. 17, 2026

Dear Colleagues, As Minkowski Institute Press (MIP) has reached a major milestone—the publication of its 100th book—we are pleased to offer colleagues complimentary electronic copies of any MIP books they select. Requests can be made either by replying to this message or by emailing mip(a)minkowskiinstitute.com <mailto:mip@minkowskiinstitute.com>. https://www.minkowskiinstitute.com/mip/books/ Our 100th title is a collection of selected papers presented at the International Philosophy of Science Conference on the Occasion of the 140th Anniversary of Niels Bohr’s Birth (15–16 October 2025, Sofia, Bulgaria): https://www.minkowskiinstitute.com/mip/books/Bohr2025.html This volume will also be presented at the MIP book exhibition during the Eighth Spacetime Conference next month in Albena, Bulgaria: https://minkowskiinstitute.com/conferences/2026/ Best regards, Vesselin Petkov Co-founder and Director, Minkowski Institute https://www.minkowskiinstitute.com/ Montreal, Canada Personal site: https://vesselinpetkov.com/

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ILMPS Philosophy of Physics conference and workshop, LMU Munich, 1-3 June
by John Dougherty May 14, 2026

May 14, 2026

The Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy at LMU Munich is hosting the ILMPS (Irvine-London-Munich-Polimi-Salzburg) Philosophy and Foundations of Physics conference and workshop, 1-3 June. Attendance is free, but space is limited, so please register at https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/register/event/76612 if you would like to attend. The schedule is below; the italicized talks are part of the workshop on "Open Systems in Physics". For further information, see the ILMPS website at https://ilmpsnetwork.wordpress.com/ilmps-2026/. June 1st, Edmund-Rumpler-Straße 9, Room A 011 Aaron Collavini Foundations of torsion theories of gravity Sanne Vergouwen Are wormholes physically unreasonable? Dominik Ehrenfels The science of the possible Antoine Brandelet Towards a counterfactual account of physical and formal analogies Ana-Maria Crețu The neglect of micro-observers Dominic Ryder Is the Standard Model an effective field theory? Bernardo Marques The direction of renormalisation: The A-theorem and scale asymmetry in QFT Simone Salzano and Enrico Maresca Renormalization all the way down! June 2nd, Edmund-Rumpler-Straße 9, Room A 011 Yongwoo Yi Symmetry undermines separability Arthur Saraiva Identity, individuation, and persistence in quantum systems of similar particles Pascal Rodríguez-Warnier Thermodynamics in the context of the open system view: the case of fluctuations Aditya Jha Thermodynamics of small (open) systems: A case for stochastic thermodynamics at strong coupling /Michael Cuffaro Framework Fundamentality Siska De Baerdemaeker When did the universe open up?/ June 3rd, Edmund-Rumpler-Straße 9, Room A 011 /Karim Thébault Quantum Hubble Friction Daniele Oriti TBA Viktoria Kabel Quantum reference frames, subsystem relativity, and their implications for open quantum systems Alexander Franklin Open Systems, Decoherence, and Local Emergence/

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1 PhD position and 1 postdoc position in history & philosophy of physics
by Sebastien Rivat April 15, 2026

April 15, 2026

Dear all, I'm recruiting a PhD student (3+1 years) and a postdoc (3 years) within the context of the ERC project RESCALE (https://erc-rescale.com/) The PhD student is expected to have a master degree in philosophy or in physics and to carry out research in the philosophy of physics (broadly construed). Potential research topics include (but are not restricted to): (i) the semantics of non-fundamental physical theories; (ii) the metaphysics of levels in physics, ideally with a focus on the concept of interscale autonomy; (iii) the objectivity of scale-relative representations in physics; (iv) the philosophy of effective theories and/or renormalization group methods. Candidates with research interests in the metaphysics of non-fundamental physics are particularly encouraged to apply. The area of research for the postdoc is open (since it is funded by a different grant). But ideally, the successful candidate will work on topics related to either (i) conceptual aspects of post-WWII physics (broadly construed) or (ii) philosophical aspects of quantum field theory (either relativistic or non-relativistic), cosmology or quantum gravity tied to the concept of scale (e.g., effective theories, renormalization group methods, symmetry unification, symmetry breaking mechanisms, dimensional reduction, lattice methods, low-energy theorems). Candidates with research interests in the metaphysics of physics closely related to scientific practice are encouraged to apply too. The deadline for applying is *May 20*. More information is available here: 1) PhD: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/415115 2) Postdoc: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/415133 If you know anyone who might be interested, don't hesitate to forward the information. Best, Sebastien

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Workshop "Postwar physics across scales" (April 9-10)
by John Dougherty March 12, 2026

March 12, 2026

Dear all, Alex Blum and I are organizing a workshop on conceptual aspects of postwar physics on April 9-10. The detailed program is now available here: https://www.philosophie.lmu.de/mcmp/en/latest-news/events-overview/event/po…. If you would like to attend, please register by sending an email to sebastien.rivat(a)lmu.de before April 7, 2026. Best, Sebastien

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CfA: Summer School for Widening Participation in Mathematical Philosophy, 20-24 July, 2026, LMU Munich
by John Dougherty Feb. 5, 2026

Feb. 5, 2026

The Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP) is organizing the third edition of the Summer School for Widening Participation in Mathematical Philosophy, which will take place from July 20th through 24th, 2026, at LMU in Munich, Germany. This event continues a successful tradition, which began in 2014 with eight editions of the summer school on mathematical philosophy for female students and was expanded in 2024 to other underrepresented groups. The 2026 edition of the summer school is open to women and members of other groups that are under-represented in mathematical philosophy. These groups include under-represented gender identities, races and ethnicities, people with disabilities, people from low income and non-academic family backgrounds. The target level is master students and last year-bachelor students. The school's aim is to encourage students to engage with mathematical and scientific approaches to philosophical problems, and thereby help to redress the under-representation of women and other marginalized groups in mathematical philosophy. It offers the opportunity for study in an informal and interdisciplinary setting, for lively debate, and for the development of a network of students and professors interested in the application of formal methods to philosophy. The 2026 edition of the summer school will feature: * A lecture series by Dunja Šešelja (Ruhr University Bochum) on Social Epistemology of Scientific Disagreements; * A lecture series by Snow Zhang (University of California, Berkeley) on Philosophy of Decision Theory; * An evening lecture by Sabina Leonelli (TU Munich) titled “Philosophy for the Public Good? Interventions in Policy and AI”; * Talks on mathematical philosophy by members of the MCMP; * Talks and discussion concerning diversity and the profession; * Poster presentations by the Summer School’s participants; * As well as social events and opportunities to explore Munich. The organizing committee consists of Cordelia Berz, Johannes Bommes, Nicola Bonatti, John Dougherty, Levin Hornischer, Ina Jäntgen, Arthur Saraiva, Toby C.P. Solomon and Daniel Wimmer. [How to Apply:] We welcome applications from women and members of other under-represented groups (including under-represented gender identities, races and ethnicities, people with disabilities, people from low income and non-academic family backgrounds) who want to specialize in mathematical philosophy. The school’s target level is master students and last year-bachelor students. When: 20–24 July, 2026 Where: in-person, at LMU Munich in Munich, Germany; Participation fee: The participation fee is 80€. For LMU Munich students: 50€. How to apply: The application portal will soon be made available on the summer school’s website. Please visit https://www.mathsummer.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/index.html <https://www.mathsummer.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/index.html>for more information.

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Eighth Spacetime Conference - Call for papers
by Vesselin Petkov Jan. 19, 2026

Jan. 19, 2026

Dear Colleagues, Here is the essential information about the forthcoming spacetime conference: Conference: Eighth Spacetime Conference https://minkowskiinstitute.com/conferences/2026/ When: September 14-17, 2026 Where: Hotel Sandy Beach in Albena (near Varna), Bulgaria. The place is a guarded resort - arguably the best green, family-friendly Black Sea resort. Organizer: Minkowski Institute Arrival: September 13, 2026 Departure: September 18, 2026 Abstract submission deadline: June 1, 2026 Send abstracts to: 2026conference(a)minkowskiinstitute.com <mailto:2026conference@minkowskiinstitute.com> Registration deadline: August 1, 2026 Special sessions: "What is the quantum object (the electron, for example) in spacetime?"; for more see the Call for Papers page (https://minkowskiinstitute.com/conferences/2026/call.html) Conference volume: Selected peer-reviewed papers presented at the conference will be published by Minkowski Institute Press, which has published 95 books to date. Scientific Organizing Committee: Valia Allori (University of Bergamo) James Binkoski (Dartmouth College) Carolyn Brighouse (Occidental College, Los Angeles) Karen Crowther (University of Oslo) Erik Curiel (University of Bonn) Robert Geroch (University of Chicago) John B. Manchak (University of California, Irvine) Vesselin Petkov (Minkowski Institute, Montreal) James Read (University of Oxford) Carlo Rovelli (Centre de Physique Théorique de Luminy, Marseille, France) Anguel Stefanov (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) The Scientific Organizing Committee invites papers from physicists, mathematicians, philosophers of physics and philosophers on any topic related to the nature and ontology of spacetime. We encourage colleagues, who do not plan to give a talk, to attend the conference for two reasons: The panel discussions (at the end of the afternoon sessions) on open questions in spacetime physics have turned out to be very productive exchanges of ideas and insights according to all participants of previous Spacetime Conferences (https://www.minkowskiinstitute.com/conferences/) and Hermann Minkowski Meetings on the Foundations of Spacetime Physics (https://www.minkowskiinstitute.com/meetings/) Special discussion time in the afternoons (after 16:00) is included in the program to stimulate more informal discussions among participants. Vesselin Petkov One of the Founders and current Director of Minkowski Institute https://www.minkowskiinstitute.com/ Montreal, Canada Personal site: https://vesselinpetkov.com/

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Event: 100 Years of the,Schrödinger Equation, January 22, 2026
by John Dougherty Jan. 19, 2026

Jan. 19, 2026

*Panel discussion on the meaning of the wave function, 100 years after Schrödinger's publication on Quantum Mechanics.* An interdisciplinary panel discussion on the meaning of the wave function, with: *Časlav Brukner* (Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information, Vienna) *Ignacio Cirac* (Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics, Garching) *Stephan Hartmann* (LMU Munich, Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy) *Alyssa Ney* (LMU Munich, Chair for Metaphysics) Thursday January 22, 2026 11:00-1:00 Herbert Walther Lecture Hall Max Planck Center for Quantum Optics, Garching https://www.mpq.mpg.de/events/44242/6512195

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Call for Abstracts ILMPS Philosophy of Physics Conference, 1-2 June, LMU Munich
by John Dougherty Jan. 19, 2026

Jan. 19, 2026

Fifth Irvine-London-Munich-PoliMi-Salzburg Conference in Philosophy and Foundations of Physics Dates:June 1-2 2026 Venue:LMU Munich (Munich, Germany) Organizing committee:John Dougherty (LMU), Alexander Franklin (KCL), Eleanor Knox (KCL), Patricia Palacios (Salzburg), Bryan Roberts (LSE), Giovanni Valente (PoliMi), Jim Weatherall (Irvine), Charlotte Werndl (Salzburg) Call for Abstracts: Over the past decades, important contributions to the mathematical and conceptual foundations of physical theories have been made within the philosophical community. Conversely, critical analysis of the formal structures of our best physical theories inform central philosophical concerns, and in some cases new theorems have been proven and new lines of argument developed that are of philosophical significance. This conference series aims to bring together philosophers, physicists, and mathematicians working on such issues. This year’s event will be held on June 1-2 at LMU Munich (Munich, Germany). It will immediately precede a workshop on “Open Systems in Physics” taking place on June 2-3, 2026. Our expected list of workshop speakers includes Siska de Baerdemaeker (Stockholm), Michael Cuffaro (LMU), Alexander Franklin (KCL), Viktoria Kabel (ETH Zurich), Karim Thébault (Bristol), and Charlotte Werndl (Salzburg). Papers on any topic of philosophy and foundations of physics by early career researchers, especially graduate students and post-doctoral scholars, will be given priority. Submissions by scholars under-represented within the philosophy and foundations of physics community are especially encouraged. Abstracts no longer than 1000 words should be submitted via https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/80636/submitter <https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/80636/submitter>by 1 March 2026. Decisions will be communicated soon after. The ILMPS conference 2026 and the workshop on “Open Systems in Physics” are financially supported by the Postdoc Support Fund at LMU Munich. ILMPS website: https://ilmpsnetwork.wordpress.com/

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Talk: David Wallace, "Emergence and Naturalness", 12 Jan., 18:00-20:00
by John Dougherty Jan. 6, 2026

Jan. 6, 2026

The following lecture may be of interest to subscribers of this list: David Wallace, University of Pittsburgh Philosophy and Physics Colloquium Mo.: 18:00 - 20:00 Uhr 12. Januar 2026 https://www.philosophie.lmu.de/de/aktuelles/veranstaltungsuebersicht/verans… *Emergence and Naturalness*: If we want to start with the physics of the very small – molecules, atoms, subatomic particles – and work out the emergent physics of large-scale systems – dust grains, iron bars, planets – we need to assume more than the laws of the very small: we have to make an additional assumption, often called /naturalness/. Despite the name, this assumption is puzzling in many respects, and the puzzle deepens into paradox because in our best theories of fundamental physics it seems to fail in two very specific places – the mass of the Higgs boson, and the rate of expansion of the Universe. In the lecture, I'll explain what the naturalness assumption is, how it relates to philosophical questions of 'strong' vs 'weak' emergence, why we need it in almost all of physics, and why its failure in particle physics and cosmology is one of the deepest problems in contemporary physics. -- John Dougherty Assistant Professor Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy Lehrstuhl für Wissenschaftstheorie Fakultät für Philosophie, Wissenschaftstheorie und Religionswissenschaft Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Ludwigstraße 31 80539 München, Deutschland

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