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Masterclass with Miklós Rédei, Feb 8
by Neil Dewar Feb. 4, 2019

Feb. 4, 2019

Dear all, On February 8 (next Friday), there will be a masterclass with Miklós Rédei (LSE) on “Topics in Foundations of Probability Theory”. The class will take place from 13:00 to 20:00, with breaks, and will cover the basic concepts of measure theoretic probability theory, conditionalisation, Bertrand’s paradox, and the Borel-Kolmogorov paradox. The venue for the class will be room 507 of Amalienstraße 52. All welcome. All the best Neil -- Neil Dewar Assistant Professor Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy Lehrstuhl für Wissenschaftstheorie Fakultät für Philosophie, Wissenschaftstheorie und Religionswissenschaft Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Ludwigstraße 31 80539 München, Deutschland neildewar.wordpress.com <http://neildewar.wordpress.com/>

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2nd CfP - Second Hermann Minkowski Meeting on the Foundations of Spacetime Physics
by Vesselin Petkov Feb. 1, 2019

Feb. 1, 2019

Second Hermann Minkowski Meeting on the Foundations of Spacetime Physics http://www.minkowskiinstitute.org/meetings/2019/ Contact: minkowski2019(a)minkowskiinstitute.org Date: May 13, 2019 - May 16, 2019 Location: Albena (near Varna), Bulgaria The Second Hermann Minkowski Meeting on the Foundations of Spacetime Physics will commemorate the 110th anniversary of the publication of Minkowski's lecture "Space and Time" in 1909, which presented the novel ideas of the four-dimensional physics of spacetime. In addition to technical papers on areas related to Minkowski's contributions to the foundations of spacetime physics and on modern ramifications of his ideas, contributions on closely related topics will be also welcome. In addition to talks and poster sessions, special (extra) tea / coffee hours will be included in the program to stimulate more informal discussions among the participants. For this reason we encourage interested colleagues to attend the meeting even if they do not plan to give a talk. Contributed papers in the form of extended abstracts from one to two standard pages should be emailed by Thursday, February 28, 2019 to minkowski2019(a)minkowskiinstitute.org. Submissions will be reviewed and notification of acceptance will be given by Friday, March 15, 2019. Scientific Organizing Committee: Abhay Ashtekar (Penn State University) Dennis Dieks (Utrecht University) George F. R. Ellis (University of Cape Town) Valeria Ferrari (University of Rome "La Sapienza") David Garfinkle (Okland University) Robert Geroch (University of Chicago) James Isenberg (University of Oregon) Claus Kiefer (University of Cologne) Vesselin Petkov (Minkowski Institute, Montreal) Carlo Rovelli (Centre de Physique Theorique de Luminy) Mairi Sakellariadou (King's College London, University of London) James Owen Weatherall (University of California, Irvine) Nick Woodhouse (University of Oxford, Clay Mathematics Institute) Christian Wüthrich (University of Geneva)

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CFA: MCMP-Western Ontario Workshop on Computation in Scientific Theory and Practice
by Michael Cuffaro Jan. 21, 2019

Jan. 21, 2019

****************************************************************************** MCMP-WESTERN ONTARIO WORKSHOP ON COMPUTATION IN SCIENTIFIC THEORY AND PRACTICE Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP), LMU Munich, Germany May 31 - June 2, 2019 https://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/events/workshops/container/ws_… ****************************************************************************** CONFERENCE DESCRIPTION The goal of this interdisciplinary meeting is to explore philosophical and historical issues that arise at the intersection of theoretical computer science, mathematics, and natural science, including issues that arise in the practice of those disciplines. We welcome submissions on topics including, but not limited to, the following: the history of computer science; the foundations of computation and mathematical cognition; computational and informational perspectives on scientific decision making, scientific methodology, and the characterisation of scientific theories; physical notions of computation and the 'Physical Church-Turing Thesis'. CONFIRMED SPEAKERS INCLUDE * Dan Christensen (University of Western Ontario) * B. Jack Copeland (University of Canterbury, ETH Zurich) * Robert Corless (University of Western Ontario) * Walter Dean (University of Warwick) * Benedict Eastaugh (MCMP/LMU Munich) * Laura Felline (University of Rome 3) * Stephan Hartmann (MCMP/LMU Munich) * Markus Mueller (Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information, Vienna) * Wayne Myrvold (University of Western Ontario) * Gualtiero Piccinini (University of Missouri St. Louis) * Paula Quinon (University of Lund) * Tom Sterkenburg (MCMP/LMU Munich) * Máté Szabo (University of Lorraine, University of Paris 1) SUBMISSIONS Prospective authors are invited to submit an extended abstract of between 600-1000 words, along with a short abstract of no more than 150 words, via the conference's EasyChair site: https://easychair.org/conferences/conference_dir.cgi?a=20704252. Submissions must be prepared for blind review by removing any identifying author information, and submitted in Portable Document Format (PDF). We especially encourage submissions from early career researchers and researchers from underrepresented groups, although submissions from researchers in all stages of their career and from all groups are welcome. IMPORTANT DATES * Submissions deadline: 17 March 2019 * Notification of acceptance: Beginning of April 2019. * Conference dates: May 31 - June 2, 2019. SUBSIDY FOR EARLY CAREER PRESENTERS We hope to be able to offer a small subsidy to early career contributed speakers in order to help defray the costs of their travel and accommodation. The exact amount that we will be able to provide will be determined within the next few weeks. PROGRAM COMMITTEE * Holger Andreas (University of British Columbia, MCMP/LMU Munich) * Lucas Dunlap (University of Cincinnati) * Nicolas Fillion (Simon Fraser University) * Adam Koberinski (University of Western Ontario) * Gregory Lavers (Concordia University) * Hannes Leitgeb (MCMP/LMU Munich) * Rossella Lupacchini (University of Bologna) * Lavinia Picollo (University College London, MCMP/LMU Munich) * Gil Sagi (University of Haifa, MCMP/LMU Munich) * Oron Shagrir (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) * Marta Sznajder (MCMP/LMU Munich) ORGANISING COMMITTEE * Marianna Antonutti Marfori (MCMP/LMU Munich) * Michael Cuffaro (Rotman Institute of Philosophy/Western Ontario and MCMP) REGISTRATION AND PRACTICAL INFORMATION Non-presenting participants will be asked to pay a registration fee. Practical information concerning the registration fees, conference location, nearby hotels, etc. will be available via the conference's website: https://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/events/workshops/container/ws_… For further inquiries, please email the organisers at cstp2019(a)easychair.org. The conference language is English.

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Extended Deadline CfP + Essay competition: Simplicities and Complexities Conference (Bonn) 24 January 2019
by Uni-Wuppertal Jan. 19, 2019

Jan. 19, 2019

International Conference on Simplicities and Complexities 22-24 May 2019 Bonn, Germany Call for Papers + Essay Competition - Extended Deadline: 24 January 2019 https://www.lhc-epistemologie.uni-wuppertal.de/complexities <https://www.lhc-epistemologie.uni-wuppertal.de/complexities> https://easychair.org/cfp/simplecomplex1 <https://easychair.org/cfp/simplecomplex1> “Simplicities and Complexities" will take place from 22 to 24 May 2019 at the University of Bonn, Germany. It aims to bring together scientists and scholars from a spectrum of disciplines such as physics, biology, ecology, chemistry, and computational science, as well as from philosophy, sociology, and history of science. This conference is organized by the interdisciplinary, DFG- and FWF-funded research unit "Epistemology of the LHC <https://www.lhc-epistemologie.uni-wuppertal.de/home.html>". Call for Papers https://easychair.org/cfp/simplecomplex1 <https://easychair.org/cfp/simplecomplex1> The organizing committee invites abstract submissions on the theme of the conference. Short abstracts (200-300 words) should be submitted to EasyChair by 24 January 2019. We aim to communicate our decision by 28 February. Submissions are welcome from the broad spectrum of scientific fields. In addition to being considered for giving a contributing talk, all submissions will also be considered for our essay competition. Essay competition All submitted abstracts will also automatically be considered for the ‘Simplicities & Complexities Essay Competition’. (If you do not want your abstract to be considered for this competition, please indicate this through EasyChair at the time of application.) From the list of applicants selected to give contributing talks, a shortlist of the six best submissions will be determined. These six finalists enter the final round of the Essay Competition. They will be contacted by February 15th, and asked to submit a 3000-5000-word essay before April 15th. One winner will be chosen and announced in the first week of May. This winner will receive the following prizes: Instead of a regular contributing talk, the winner will present their essay during a longer, public ‘Award Lecture’ (at some point during the conference) Travel reimbursement (up to 300€) + hotel room Please note that once shortlisted you are guaranteed to speak at the Conference (either as a regular contributing speaker, or, in case of the winner, as the Award-winning Public Speaker). Registration The organizing committee invites participants from sciences and from philosophy, history, sociology of physics/science, as well as anyone else who may be interested. In order to register for this conference, please email your name and affiliation to lhc.epistemology(a)uni-wuppertal.de <mailto:lhc.epistemology@uni-wuppertal.de> by 1 May 2019. Registration is free. Description Philosophers and scientists alike have often assumed simplicity to be an epistemic ideal. Some examples of theories taken as successful realizations of this ideal include General Relativity and Darwin's theory of Natural Selection. These theories influenced early and mid-20th century philosophers' understanding of the criteria successful scientific theories and practices had to meet, even when facing complex phenomena. However, this influence did not mean that the notion of simplicity was clear-cut. A suitable and encompassing definition of simplicity has yet to be developed. Some unanswered questions include: In what sense can and do physicists consider a theory, such as the Standard Model of elementary particle physics, as being sufficiently simple? How do ideals of simplicity differ when applied to disciplines other than physics? Biological concepts, for example, do not tend to refer to laws, whereas concepts from the social sciences frequently resort to notions of order and structure that are different from those of natural sciences. Are there, accordingly, simplicities (in plural) rather than a unified logic-inspired notion? Finally, are there cases where simplicity is simply a bad epistemic ideal, and not merely for the reason that it is often unreachable? Throughout the 20th century the sciences have approached more and more complex phenomena, in tune with the increased social relevance of scientific knowledge. The perceived need to address complexity head-on has led to a broader reaction against simplification and reductionism within the sciences. However, if simplicity, in its various outfits, has proven an unreliable guide, what should it be replaced with? Looking at the various strategies of addressing complexity in the sciences and the disciplines reflecting upon them, it appears that the notion is at least as variegated as simplicity. To be sure, there exist measures of complexity as well as mathematical, empirical, or discursive strategies to deal with it, but they vary strongly from one discipline to another. The aim of the conference is to analyze, differentiate, and connect the various notions and practices of simplicity and complexity, in physics as well as in other sciences, guided by the following questions: Which kinds and levels of simplicity can be distinguished (e.g. formal or ontological, structural or practical)? Which roles do they play and which purposes do they serve? Does simplicity, in a suitable reformulation, remain a valid ideal - and if so, in which fields and problem contexts? Or, instead, where has it been abandoned or replaced by a plurality of interconnected approaches and alternative perspectives? What about complexity? How is the complexity of an object of investigation addressed (represented, mirrored, negated, etc.) by the adopted theoretical and empirical approaches in different fields? Addressing complex problems, especially those relevant to society, requires institutional settings beyond the traditional research laboratory. How does the complexity of such settings relate to the complexity of epistemic strategies and of the problems themselves? In what sense can we trust the other players in a complex epistemic network? How should we conceive of the relation between simplicity and complexity? Are there alternatives to seeing complexity in opposition to simplicity? Does physics, in virtue of its history, maintain its special position in the contemporary debates on simplicity and complexity? What do reflections on the epistemic cultures of ecology, cultural anthropology, economics, etc. have to offer in terms of how simplicities and complexities can be balanced? We invite contributors from a spectrum of disciplines, 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. The conference will thrive on intense discussion surpassing disciplinary boundaries. Invited Speakers Physics: Robert Harlander, RWTH Aachen (Germany) Stephen Blundell, University of Oxford (UK) Beate Heinemann, DESY Freiburg (Germany) Philosophy: Michael Stöltzner, University of South Carolina (US) Marta Bertolaso, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome (Italy) Richard Dawid, Stockholms Universitet (Sweden) Johannes Lenhard, Universität Bielefeld (Germany) STS: Talia Dan-Cohen, Washington University in St. Louis (US) Stefan Böschen, RWTH Aachen (Germany) Other Sciences: Volker Grimm, Helmholtz Centre for Enviromental Research (Germany) Thomas Vogt, University of South Carolina (US) Other speakers will be announced soon Organization This workshop is organized by the DFG and FWF-funded research unit "Epistemology of the LHC <https://www.lhc-epistemologie.uni-wuppertal.de/home.html>". Cristin Chall (University of Bonn) Dennis Lehmkuhl (University of Bonn) Niels Martens (RWTH Aachen) Martina Merz (University of Klagenfurt) Miguel Ángel Carretero Sahuquillo (University of Wuppertal) Gregor Schiemann (University of Wuppertal) Michael Stöltzner (University of South Carolina) Contact For further information, please contact lhc.epistemology(a)uni-wuppertal.de <mailto:lhc.epistemology@uni-wuppertal.de>

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Essay Competition + CfP: Simplicities and Complexities Conference (Bonn)
by Uni-Wuppertal Dec. 13, 2018

Dec. 13, 2018

International Conference on Simplicities and Complexities 22-24 May 2019 Bonn, Germany Call for Papers + Essay Competition - Deadline: 15 January 2019 https://www.lhc-epistemologie.uni-wuppertal.de/complexities <https://www.lhc-epistemologie.uni-wuppertal.de/complexities> https://easychair.org/cfp/simplecomplex1 <https://easychair.org/cfp/simplecomplex1> “Simplicities and Complexities" will take place from 22 to 24 May 2019 at the University of Bonn, Germany. It aims to bring together scientists and scholars from a spectrum of disciplines such as physics, biology, ecology, chemistry, and computational science, as well as from philosophy, sociology, and history of science. This conference is organized by the interdisciplinary, DFG- and FWF-funded research unit "Epistemology of the LHC <https://www.lhc-epistemologie.uni-wuppertal.de/home.html>". Call for Papers https://easychair.org/cfp/simplecomplex1 <https://easychair.org/cfp/simplecomplex1> The organizing committee invites abstract submissions on the theme of the conference. Short abstracts (200-300 words) should be submitted to EasyChair by 15 January 2019. We aim to communicate our decision by 28 February. Submissions are welcome from the broad spectrum of scientific fields. In addition to being considered for giving a contributing talk, all submissions will also be considered for our essay competition. Essay competition All submitted abstracts will also automatically be considered for the ‘Simplicities & Complexities Essay Competition’. (If you do not want your abstract to be considered for this competition, please indicate this through EasyChair at the time of application.) From the list of applicants selected to give contributing talks, a shortlist of the six best submissions will be determined. These six finalists enter the final round of the Essay Competition. They will be contacted by February 15th, and asked to submit a 3000-5000-word essay before April 15th. One winner will be chosen and announced in the first week of May. This winner will receive the following prizes: Instead of a regular contributing talk, the winner will present their essay during a longer, public ‘Award Lecture’ (at some point during the conference) Travel reimbursement (up to 300€) + hotel room Please note that once shortlisted you are guaranteed to speak at the Conference (either as a regular contributing speaker, or, in case of the winner, as the Award-winning Public Speaker). Description Philosophers and scientists alike have often assumed simplicity to be an epistemic ideal. Some examples of theories taken as successful realizations of this ideal include General Relativity and Darwin's theory of Natural Selection. These theories influenced early and mid-20th century philosophers' understanding of the criteria successful scientific theories and practices had to meet, even when facing complex phenomena. However, this influence did not mean that the notion of simplicity was clear-cut. A suitable and encompassing definition of simplicity has yet to be developed. Some unanswered questions include: In what sense can and do physicists consider a theory, such as the Standard Model of elementary particle physics, as being sufficiently simple? How do ideals of simplicity differ when applied to disciplines other than physics? Biological concepts, for example, do not tend to refer to laws, whereas concepts from the social sciences frequently resort to notions of order and structure that are different from those of natural sciences. Are there, accordingly, simplicities (in plural) rather than a unified logic-inspired notion? Finally, are there cases where simplicity is simply a bad epistemic ideal, and not merely for the reason that it is often unreachable? Throughout the 20th century the sciences have approached more and more complex phenomena, in tune with the increased social relevance of scientific knowledge. The perceived need to address complexity head-on has led to a broader reaction against simplification and reductionism within the sciences. However, if simplicity, in its various outfits, has proven an unreliable guide, what should it be replaced with? Looking at the various strategies of addressing complexity in the sciences and the disciplines reflecting upon them, it appears that the notion is at least as variegated as simplicity. To be sure, there exist measures of complexity as well as mathematical, empirical, or discursive strategies to deal with it, but they vary strongly from one discipline to another. The aim of the conference is to analyze, differentiate, and connect the various notions and practices of simplicity and complexity, in physics as well as in other sciences, guided by the following questions: Which kinds and levels of simplicity can be distinguished (e.g. formal or ontological, structural or practical)? Which roles do they play and which purposes do they serve? Does simplicity, in a suitable reformulation, remain a valid ideal - and if so, in which fields and problem contexts? Or, instead, where has it been abandoned or replaced by a plurality of interconnected approaches and alternative perspectives? What about complexity? How is the complexity of an object of investigation addressed (represented, mirrored, negated, etc.) by the adopted theoretical and empirical approaches in different fields? Addressing complex problems, especially those relevant to society, requires institutional settings beyond the traditional research laboratory. How does the complexity of such settings relate to the complexity of epistemic strategies and of the problems themselves? In what sense can we trust the other players in a complex epistemic network? How should we conceive of the relation between simplicity and complexity? Are there alternatives to seeing complexity in opposition to simplicity? Does physics, in virtue of its history, maintain its special position in the contemporary debates on simplicity and complexity? What do reflections on the epistemic cultures of ecology, cultural anthropology, economics, etc. have to offer in terms of how simplicities and complexities can be balanced? We invite contributors from a spectrum of disciplines, 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. The conference will thrive on intense discussion surpassing disciplinary boundaries. Invited Speakers Physics: Robert Harlander, RWTH Aachen (Germany) Stephen Blundell, University of Oxford (UK) Beate Heinemann, DESY Freiburg (Germany) Philosophy: Michael Stöltzner, University of South Carolina (US) Marta Bertolaso, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome (Italy) Richard Dawid, Stockholms Universitet (Sweden) Johannes Lenhard, Universität Bielefeld (Germany) STS: Talia Dan-Cohen, Washington University in St. Louis (US) Stefan Böschen, RWTH Aachen (Germany) Other Sciences: Volker Grimm, Helmholtz Centre for Enviromental Research (Germany) Thomas Vogt, University of South Carolina (US) Other speakers will be announced soon Organization This workshop is organized by the DFG and FWF-funded research unit "Epistemology of the LHC <https://www.lhc-epistemologie.uni-wuppertal.de/home.html>". Cristin Chall (University of Bonn) Dennis Lehmkuhl (University of Bonn) Niels Martens (RWTH Aachen) Martina Merz (University of Klagenfurt) Miguel Ángel Carretero Sahuquillo (University of Wuppertal) Gregor Schiemann (University of Wuppertal) Michael Stöltzner (University of South Carolina) Contact For further information, please contact lhc.epistemology(a)uni-wuppertal.de <mailto:lhc.epistemology@uni-wuppertal.de>

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CFP: Workshop "Philosophy of Cosmology", Munich, 18-20 March 2019
by Christian Wuthrich Nov. 28, 2018

Nov. 28, 2018

CALL FOR PAPERS (Munich, Deadline: 06.01.2019) Call for abstracts for Workshop "Philosophy of Cosmology", Munich, 18-20 March 2019 The Working Group “Philosophy of Physics” (AGPhil) of the German Physical Society (DPG) invites submissions for its annual workshop. Contributions on any topic in the philosophy of physics are welcome. The workshop takes place 18-20 March 2019 at the Technical University in Munich and will be part of the Annual Meeting of the DPG (http://muenchen19.dpg-tagungen.de/) The AGPhil organizes a small workshop on “Philosophy of Cosmology”. Contributions in this area are especially welcome. Confirmed speakers so far: Claus Beisbart (Bern) Richard Dawid (Stockholm) Fay Dowker (Imperial College London) Michela Massimi (Edinburgh) Casey McCoy (Stockholm) Stéphanie Ruphy (Lyon 3) If you would like to present a paper, please submit an abstract of about 200 words by 6 January 2019 (ignore the stated 15 December 2018 abstract submission deadline on the website), using the online-form at https://www.dpg-tagung.de/m19/submission.html?language=en. As conference fees are not trivial (http://muenchen19.dpg-tagungen.de/registrierung/tagungsgebuehren) speakers who have difficulties paying the conference fees should contact us about possible travel grants. We look forward to seeing you in Munich! Meinard Kuhlmann Radin Dardashti Christian Wüthrich

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CFP - Metaphysical Explanation in Science, Birmingham, 10-11 Jan 2019
by Neil Dewar Nov. 1, 2018

Nov. 1, 2018

See the below, sent by Al Wilson (University of Birmingham). ——— ** Call for Papers ** FraMEPhys/Gothenburg Conference on Metaphysical Explanation in Science Birmingham, UK -- January 10-11 2019 Submissions of abstracts are invited for presentation at a conference on Metaphysical Explanation in Science, co-hosted by the FraMEPhys project at the University of Birmingham and the Metaphysical Explanation project at the University of Gothenburg. The conference will be held at the Ikon Gallery in Birmingham, UK on 10th and 11th January 2019. Confirmed speakers: Sam Baron Amanda Bryant Stephan Leuenberger Juha Saatsi Michael Strevens Elanor Taylor Abstracts should be between 500 and 1000 words, and prepared for anonymous review. Presentation time for accepted papers will be 30 minutes plus Q&A. Travel and accommodation costs will be covered for speakers whose papers are accepted. We will also aim to help with any childcare and accessibility requirements. The deadline for submission of abstracts is *1st December 2018*; we aim to make decisions on acceptance by 10th December. Please send anonymized abstracts as email attachments to: framephys(a)gmail.com For further information about the conference, please contact: a.j.wilson(a)bham.ac.uk FraMEPhys (A Framework for Metaphysical Explanation in Science) is supported by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement no. 757295). More info: http://tinyurl.com/framephys The Metaphysical Explanation project is supported by the Riksbankens Jubileumsfond. More info: https://metaphysicalexplanation.wordpress.com/

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CfP Simplicities and Complexities International Conference
by Miguel Ángel Carretero Sahuquillo Oct. 29, 2018

Oct. 29, 2018

International Conference on Simplicities and Complexities 22-24 May 2019 Bonn, Germany Call for Papers - Deadline: 15 January 2019 https://www.lhc-epistemologie.uni-wuppertal.de/complexities <https://www.lhc-epistemologie.uni-wuppertal.de/complexities> https://easychair.org/cfp/simplecomplex1 <https://easychair.org/cfp/simplecomplex1> “Simplicities and Complexities" will take place from 22 to 24 May 2019 at the University of Bonn, Germany. It aims to bring together scientists and scholars from a spectrum of disciplines such as physics, biology, ecology, chemistry, and computational science, as well as from philosophy, sociology, and history of science. This conference is organized by the interdisciplinary, DFG- and FWF-funded research unit "Epistemology of the LHC <https://www.lhc-epistemologie.uni-wuppertal.de/home.html>". Philosophers and scientists alike have often assumed simplicity to be an epistemic ideal. Some examples of theories taken as successful realizations of this ideal include General Relativity and Darwin's theory of Natural Selection. These theories influenced early and mid-20th century philosophers' understanding of the criteria successful scientific theories and practices had to meet, even when facing complex phenomena. However, this influence did not mean that the notion of simplicity was clear-cut. A suitable and encompassing definition of simplicity has yet to be developed. Some unanswered questions include: In what sense can and do physicists consider a theory, such as the Standard Model of elementary particle physics, as being sufficiently simple? How do ideals of simplicity differ when applied to disciplines other than physics? Biological concepts, for example, do not tend to refer to laws, whereas concepts from the social sciences frequently resort to notions of order and structure that are different from those of natural sciences. Are there, accordingly, simplicities (in plural) rather than a unified logic-inspired notion? Finally, are there cases where simplicity is simply a bad epistemic ideal, and not merely for the reason that it is often unreachable? Throughout the 20th century the sciences have approached more and more complex phenomena, in tune with the increased social relevance of scientific knowledge. The perceived need to address complexity head-on has led to a broader reaction against simplification and reductionism within the sciences. However, if simplicity, in its various outfits, has proven an unreliable guide, what should it be replaced with? Looking at the various strategies of addressing complexity in the sciences and the disciplines reflecting upon them, it appears that the notion is at least as variegated as simplicity. To be sure, there exist measures of complexity as well as mathematical, empirical, or discursive strategies to deal with it, but they vary strongly from one discipline to another. The aim of the conference is to analyze, differentiate, and connect the various notions and practices of simplicity and complexity, in physics as well as in other sciences, guided by the following questions: Which kinds and levels of simplicity can be distinguished (e.g. formal or ontological, structural or practical)? Which roles do they play and which purposes do they serve? Does simplicity, in a suitable reformulation, remain a valid ideal - and if so, in which fields and problem contexts? Or, instead, where has it been abandoned or replaced by a plurality of interconnected approaches and alternative perspectives? What about complexity? How is the complexity of an object of investigation addressed (represented, mirrored, negated, etc.) by the adopted theoretical and empirical approaches in different fields? Addressing complex problems, especially those relevant to society, requires institutional settings beyond the traditional research laboratory. How does the complexity of such settings relate to the complexity of epistemic strategies and of the problems themselves? In what sense can we trust the other players in a complex epistemic network? How should we conceive of the relation between simplicity and complexity? Are there alternatives to seeing complexity in opposition to simplicity? Does physics, in virtue of its history, maintain its special position in the contemporary debates on simplicity and complexity? What do reflections on the epistemic cultures of ecology, cultural anthropology, economics, etc. have to offer in terms of how simplicities and complexities can be balanced? We invite contributors from a spectrum of disciplines, 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. The conference will thrive on intense discussion surpassing disciplinary boundaries. Invited Speakers Physics: Robert Harlander, RWTH Aachen (Germany) Stephen Blundell, University of Oxford (UK) Beate Heinemann, DESY Freiburg (Germany) Philosophy: Michael Stöltzner, University of South Carolina (US) Marta Bertolaso, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome (Italy) Alan Baker, Swarthmore College (US) STS: Talia Dan-Cohen, Washington University in St. Louis (US) Stefan Böschen, RWTH Aachen (Germany) Other Sciences: Volker Grimm, Helmholtz Centre for Enviromental Research (Germany) Thomas Vogt, University of South Carolina (US) Other speakers will be announced soon Call for Papers https://easychair.org/cfp/simplecomplex1 <https://easychair.org/cfp/simplecomplex1> The organisation committee invites abstract submissions on the theme of the conference. Short abstracts (200-300 words) should be submitted to EasyChair by 15 January 2019. We aim to communicate our decision by 28 February. Submissions are welcome from the broad spectrum of scientific fields. Organization This workshop is organized by the DFG and FWF-funded research unit "Epistemology of the LHC <https://www.lhc-epistemologie.uni-wuppertal.de/home.html>". Cristin Chall (University of Bonn) Dennis Lehmkuhl (University of Bonn) Niels Martens (RWTH Aachen) Martina Merz (University of Klagenfurt) Miguel Ángel Carretero Sahuquillo (University of Wuppertal) Gregor Schiemann (University of Wuppertal) Michael Stöltzner (University of South Carolina) Contact For further information, please contact lhc.epistemology(a)uni-wuppertal.de <mailto:lhc.epistemology@uni-wuppertal.de>

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Registration for Conference, Analogical Reasoning in Science and Mathematics
by Erik Curiel Oct. 12, 2018

Oct. 12, 2018

ANALOGICAL REASONING IN SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS MCMP, LMU Munich 26-28 October 2018 https://www.analogicalreasoning2018.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/index.html ********************************************* Analogy is a powerful, yet controversial, tool of scientific reasoning. Indeed, many achievements in the history of science and mathematics have been driven by analogical inferences. Moreover, one can formulate conjectures about domains into which one does not have empirical access just based on analogy with other known domains. Nonetheless, from a logical point of view analogical inferences do not yield conclusions with certainty. So, what is it that justifies the use of analogy in science and mathematics? And how reliable is analogical reasoning? This conference will address such open philosophical problems. ********************************************* REGISTRATION: Please send registration requests by 23. Jan 2018 to the co-organizer Giovanni Valente (giovanni.valente(a)polimi.it) The email should have the subject: "register analogical reasoning" . Also please indicate whether you plan to attend the conference dinner (27 Oct, 2018). There is no fee for the conference. The conference dinner will cost EUR 35 (alcohol not included). -- Erik Curiel Assistant Professor Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy Lehrstuhl für Wissenschaftstheorie Fakultät für Philosophie, Wissenschaftstheorie und Religionswissenschaft Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Senior Research Fellow Black Hole Initiative Harvard University Research Fellow Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Radio and Geoastronomy Division http://strangebeautiful.com

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announcent of conference "Concepts of Probability in the Sciences"
by Erik Curiel Sept. 28, 2018

Sept. 28, 2018

The conference "Concepts of Probability in the Sciences" will be held at the Erwin Schrödinger International Institute for Mathematics and Physics in Vienna, 29-30 October 2018 (https://www.esi.ac.at/activities/events/2018/probability-symposium) The conference is dedicated to the many facets of the probability concept in the sciences. Experts from various disciplines will give lectures aimed at researchers and students, in particular in physics, mathematics and the life sciences, interested in foundational issues and applications of probability. Erik -- Erik Curiel Assistant Professor Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy Lehrstuhl für Wissenschaftstheorie Fakultät für Philosophie, Wissenschaftstheorie und Religionswissenschaft Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Senior Research Fellow Black Hole Initiative Harvard University Research Fellow Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Radio and Geoastronomy Division http://strangebeautiful.com

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