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Talk by Adam Caulton at the MCMP (Wed. 15.05)
by Karim Thebault May 12, 2013

May 12, 2013

Speaker: Adam Caulton (Cambridge) Wednesday 15th May 2013 Ludwigstr.31 Room E021 Time: 4 to 6 pm Title: Individuating so-called "indistinguishable" quantum systems Abstract: In this talk I investigate and build on recent heterodox proposals by Zanardi and others about the idea of a natural decomposition of an assembly. I argue that so-called "indistinguishable" quantum systems may, in fact, be individuated---that is, picked out uniquely by some (permutation-invariant) description---and may in some cases be ascribed non-trivial reduced density operators. This heterodox account has several interesting consequences, that I will outline. First, it entails that the received opinion within the quantum philosophy literature, that bosons and fermions are always indiscernible, at least by their monadic properties (a view shared even by Muller, Saunders and Seevinck), is mistaken. Second, the account prompts a revision of the notion of entanglement in cases where permutation-invariance is imposed. More specifically: non-separability of the joint state is no longer sufficient for that state's being entangled. This revision happily coincides with recent proposals by Ghirardi, Marinatto and Weber. Third, arbitrariness in the individuating description suggests that a quantum analogue of David Lewis's counterpart theory is an appropriate metaphysics for such systems. _______________________________________________ philphysmunich mailing list philphysmunich(a)lists.lrz.de https://lists.lrz.de/mailman/listinfo/philphysmunich

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Talk by Hans Briegel at the MCMP (Wed. 24.04)
by Dardashti, Radin April 22, 2013

April 22, 2013

Speaker: Hans Briegel (Innsbruck) Wednesday 24th April 2013 Ludwigstr.31 Room E021 Time: 6 to 8 pm Title: On Agency and Freedom under the Laws of Nature Abstract: I will discuss the possibility of freedom for agents that are, with no exception and at all scales of their body, subject to physical law. I will relate the discussion to a model of an artificial agent that exhibits a primitive notion of creativity and freedom, which is part of a recently introduced scheme of information processing called projective simulation. This provides an explicit proposal on how we can reconcile our understanding of universal physical law with the idea that higher biological entities can acquire a form of freedom that allows them to increasingly detach themselves from a strict dependence on the surrounding world.

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CfP: Reduction and Emergence in Physics (LMU Munich, 21-22 June)
by Karim Thebault April 1, 2013

April 1, 2013

********************************************* REDUCTION AND EMERGENCE IN PHYSICS Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy & Center for Advanced Studies at LMU Munich 21-22 June 2013 www.lmu.de/reductionandemergenceinphysics ********************************************* The aim of the workshop is to bring together physicists and philosophers of physics for a meeting focused on fundamental issues in physics relating to reduction and emergence. Participants will include researchers with expertise in string theory, statistical physics, condensed matter physics, and renormalisation. The workshop will combine consideration of issues in contemporary physics research with discussion of longstanding philosophical questions, such as the nature of scientific explanations and the relationship between different systems of physical laws. The workshop will be held in Munich over two days (21-22 June) and will feature talks by researchers with a wide range of expertise. Submission of contributed papers are welcomed from researchers with interests in emergence and reduction in physics. We invite submissions of an abstract of 1000 words by 15th April 2013. Only PDF files are accepted. We anticipate there will be space for between two and four contributed talks. To submit please send the file to Karim.Thebault(a)lrz.uni-muenchen.de. INVITED SPEAKERS: Sir Michael Berry (Bristol), Jeremy Butterfield (Cambridge), Richard Dawid (Vienna), Georgi Dvali (Munich), Erwin Frey (Munich), Paul Hoyningen-Huene (Hannover), Eric Winsberg (South Florida), Charlotte Werndl (LSE), Lena Zuchowski (Cambridge) ORGANIZERS: Stephan Hartmann, Sebastian Lutz, Karim Thébault

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CFP: Reduction and Emergence in the Sciences. Deadline 15 May.
by Karim Thebault March 25, 2013

March 25, 2013

Call for Papers: Reduction and Emergence in the Sciences Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy & Center for Advanced Studies, LMU http://www.lmu.de/reductionandemergence/ Deadline: 15 May 2013 Reduction and emergence play a central role in the relations of scientific theories and disciplines. For instance, a reducible theory is in some sense replaceable but also supported by its reducing theory. In contrast, a theory that describes emergent phenomena arguably stands alone in both respects. Unfortunately, the discussion about reduction and emergence suffers from two uncertainties at once. On the one hand the concepts of reduction and especially emergence are not precisely defined, on the other hand there are few if any uncontentious cases of reduction or emergence in the sciences. This stalemate can be overcome by a thorough analysis of relations between and within scientific theories. These relations can then serve as a basis for explications of reduction and emergence that are applicable in the sciences. In this vein, we invite proposals for talks that address the inter- or intratheoretic relations of specific theories or provide precise notions of such relations for the application in the sciences. The submissions should consist of both a short abstract (max. 100 words) and an extended abstract (500-1000 words). To submit, please prepare your abstracts for blind review, and save your extended abstract as a PDF file. Then use our automatic submission system at https://www.easychair.org/conferences/?conf=res13. The deadline for submission is 15 May 2013. Notifications of acceptance will be sent out by 15 June 2013, and the conference will take place 14-16 November 2013. If you have further questions, please refer to the conference website at http://www.lmu.de/reductionandemergence/ or contact Sebastian Lutz ( sebastian.lutz(a)lrz.uni-muenchen.de) Submission deadline: 15 May 2013 Notification of acceptance: 15 June 2013 Registration deadline: 14 October 2013 Conference: 14-16 November 2013 Conference website: http://www.lmu.de/reductionandemergence/ INVITED SPEAKERS: Patricia S. Churchland (UC San Diego), Kevin Hoover (Duke), Margaret Morrison (Toronto), Samir Okasha (Bristol) ORGANIZERS: Stephan Hartmann, Sebastian Lutz, Karim Thébault

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Talk by Tilman Sauer today at MZWTG
by Dardashti, Radin Feb. 18, 2013

Feb. 18, 2013

Speaker: Tilman Sauer (Universität Bern und California Institute of Technology, Pasadena) Monday 18th Feb. Deutsches Museum Seminarraum der Institute 1402, Bibliotheksbau Museumsinsel 1 80538 München Time: 4:30 pm Title: Einstein Out of Context Abstract: Im Oktober 1922 verlässt Einstein Berlin und begibt sich auf eine halbjährige Reise in den Fernen Osten. Hinter sich lässt er eine hektische Großstadt, wissenschaftlich eines der Zentren der sich herausbildenden Quantenmechanik, aber auch ein Brennpunkt politischer Konflikte und wirtschaftlicher Probleme des Nachkriegsdeutschlands. Einsteins Abreise vorausgegangen war die brutale Ermordung des deutschen Außenministers und Freund Einsteins, Walther Rathenau, auf offener Strasse. Auf der Reise nach und von Japan genießt Einstein mehrere Wochen die Ruhe an Bord eines Dampfers ohne direkten Kontakt zu seinen akademischen Kollegen, ohne Verpflichtungen und ohne Zugang zu einer Bibliothek. In der Abgeschiedenheit seiner Seereise verfasst er eine Arbeit zur einheitlichen Theorie des Gravitations- und des elektromagnetischen Feldes. Ein erstes Manuskript, ausführliche Rechnungen in seinem Reisetagebuch sowie Korrespondenz erlauben uns einen unmittelbaren Blick in seine Gedankenwelt. Über das biographische Interesse hinaus wirft diese Episode auch die Frage nach einer historischen und systematischen Einschätzung des Programms einer einheitlichen Feldtheorie in den zwanziger Jahren des letzten Jahrhunderts auf. _______________________________________________ philphysmunich mailing list philphysmunich(a)lists.lrz.de https://lists.lrz.de/mailman/listinfo/philphysmunich

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CfP: Quantum Gravity in Perspective (LMU Munich, 31 May - 1 June 2013)
by Karim Thebault Feb. 6, 2013

Feb. 6, 2013

********************************************* QUANTUM GRAVITY IN PERSPECTIVE LMU Munich 31st May - 1st June 2013 http://www.quantumgravityinperspective.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/index.ht… ********************************************* The search for a theory which would unite the insights of general relativity with those of quantum theory, a theory of quantum gravity, has now lasted the better part of a century. Although a number of promising candidate theories have emerged (string theory and loop quantum gravity being the most prominent), a large array of conceptual, formal and methodological issues are still unresolved. The increasingly fractured nature of the field – with long standing and well publicised disagreements over the premisses, goals and criteria for evaluation relevant to a 'theory of quantum gravity' – might be seen as one significant factor impeding progress. With this in mind, the aim of this workshop is to bring together physicists, philosophers and historians with interests in various approaches to quantum gravity towards a mutually beneficial cross-pollination of ideas. By looking at the problem of quantum gravity from a variety of different perspectives, it is hoped, we will all be able to see a little further. The workshop will be held in Munich over two days (31st May - 1st June) and will feature talks by researchers with a wide range of expertise. Submission of contributed papers are welcomed from researchers with interests in quantum gravity considered from any of the perspectives mentioned above. We invite submissions of an abstract of 500 words by 1st March, 2013. Only PDF files are accepted. We anticipate there will be space for between two and four contributed talks. To submit please send the file to Karim.Thebault(a)lrz.uni-muenchen.de. INVITED SPEAKERS: Nazim Bouatta (Cambridge), Richard Dawid (Vienna), Johanna Erdmenger (Max Planck Munich), Sabine Hossenfelder (NORDITA), Claus Kiefer (Cologne), Brian Pitts (Cambridge), Dean Rickles (Sydney), Nicholas Teh (Cambridge), Chris Wuthrich (UCSD) ORGANIZERS: Karim Thebault, Radin Dardashti GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS: A few travel bursaries for graduate students are available (up to 500 Euro). See website for details. _______________________________________________ philphysmunich mailing list philphysmunich(a)lists.lrz.de https://lists.lrz.de/mailman/listinfo/philphysmunich

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Talk by Brian Pitts at MCMP (Wed. 6th Feb.)
by Karim Thebault Feb. 2, 2013

Feb. 2, 2013

Speaker: J. Brian Pitts (Cambridge) Wednesday 6th Feb. Ludwigstr.31 /II room 225 Time: 6 to 8 pm Title: How Almost Everything in Space-time Theory Is Illuminated by Simple Particle Physics: The Neglected Case of Massive Scalar Gravity Abstract: Both particle physics from the 1920s-30s and the 1890s Seeliger-Neumann modification of Newtonian gravity suggest considering a “mass term,” an additional algebraic term in the gravitational potential. The “graviton mass” gives gravity a finite range. The smooth massless limit implies underdetermination. In 1914 Nordström generalized Newtonian gravity to fit Special Relativity. Why not do to Nordström what Seeliger and Neumann did to Newton? Einstein started in setting up a (faulty!) analogy for his cosmological constant Λ. Scalar gravities, though not empirically viable since the 1919 bending of light observations, provide a useful test bed for tensor theories like General Relativity. Massive scalar gravity, though not completed in a timely way, sheds philosophical light on most issues in contemporary and 20th century space-time theory. A mass term shrinks the symmetry group to that of Special Relativity and violates Einstein's principles (general covariance, general relativity, equivalence and Mach) in empirically small but conceptually large ways. Geometry is a poor guide to massive scalar gravities in comparison to detailed study of the field equation or Lagrangian. Matter sees a conformally flat metric because gravity distorts volumes while leaving the speed of light alone, but gravity sees the whole flat metric due to the mass term. Largely with Poincaré (pace Eddington), one can contemplate a “true” flat geometry differing from what material rods and clocks disclose. But questions about “true” geometry need no answer and tend to block inquiry. Presumptively one should expect analogous results for the tensor (massive spin 2) case modifying Einstein’s equations. A case to the contrary was made only in 1970-72: an apparently fatal dilemma involving either instability or empirical falsification appeared. But dark energy measurements since 1999 cast some doubt on General Relativity (massless spin 2) at long distances. Recent calculations (2000s, some from 2010) show that instability can be avoided and that empirical falsification likely can be as well, making massive spin 2 gravity a serious rival for GR. Particle physics can let philosophers proportion belief to evidence over time, rather than suffering from unconceived alternatives. _______________________________________________ philphysmunich mailing list philphysmunich(a)lists.lrz.de https://lists.lrz.de/mailman/listinfo/philphysmunich

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Final CfP: Foundations of Physics 2013 (LMU Munich, 29-31 July 2013)
by Karim Thebault Jan. 24, 2013

Jan. 24, 2013

FOUNDATIONS OF PHYSICS 2013 The 17th UK and European Meeting LMU Munich 29-31 July 2013 http://www.lmu.de/FoundationsOfPhysics2013 ********************************************* This conference will consider topics across the entire spectrum of foundational and philosophical approaches to physical theory. Whilst there will be a particular focus upon the analysis of specific physical theories (e.g. classical and quantum theories of spacetime, quantum mechanics, quantum field theory, statistical physics), we also invite submissions on methodological questions, experimental practices, and the study of philosophically interesting episodes from the history of physics. It is hoped that bringing together philosophers of physics, historians of physics, and working physicists to discuss topics of mutual interest, will be of great benefit to practitioners of each discipline. We invite submissions of extended abstracts of 1000 words for contributed talks and proposals for symposia by 1st February 2013. Decisions will be made by 1st March 2013. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Markus Aspelmeyer (Vienna), Julian Barbour (Oxford), Jean Bricmont (Brussels), Fay Dowker (London), Tim Maudlin (New York), John D. Norton (Pittsburgh), Rob Spekkens (Perimeter) ORGANIZERS: Detlef Dürr, Mathias Frisch, Stephan Hartmann, Christian Joas, Roland Poellinger, Karim Thebault GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS: A few travel bursaries for graduate students are available (up to 500 Euro). See website for details. _______________________________________________ philphysmunich mailing list philphysmunich(a)lists.lrz.de https://lists.lrz.de/mailman/listinfo/philphysmunich

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Talk by Paul Naeger at MCMP (Wed. 30th Jan.)
by Karim Thebault Jan. 24, 2013

Jan. 24, 2013

Speaker: Paul Naeger (Bremen) Wednesday January 30th Ludwigstr.31 /II room 225 Time: 4 to 6 pm Title: The causal structure of EPR experiments Abstract: In this talk we examine possible causal structures of experiments with entangled quantum objects. We try to surpass previous discussions in that (i) we proceed from a recent stronger version of Bell's theorem (Näger 2012, preprint) and (ii) use the rigorous methods of causal graph theory. Our result will be that EPR correlations come about exclusively by common causes. Among the common causes there must be the quantum state and at least one of the measurement settings. Particularly, we provide an argument that there is no direct causal relation between the measurement outcomes. This refutes the standard view that EPR correlations arise due to an influence from one outcome to the other ("outcome dependence"). Our result also improves on conclusions from information theoretic considerations (Maudlin 1994; Pawlowski 2010), which wrongly allow for such direct connections between the outcomes. _______________________________________________ philphysmunich mailing list philphysmunich(a)lists.lrz.de https://lists.lrz.de/mailman/listinfo/philphysmunich

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Talk by Detlef Dürr at MCMP (Wed. 23rd Jan.)
by Karim Thebault Jan. 18, 2013

Jan. 18, 2013

Speaker: Detlef Dürr (Mathematics Institute/LMU) Wednesday January 23rd Ludwigstr.31 /II room 225 Time: 6 to 8 pm Title: Bohmian Mechanics, speakable quantum physics. Abstract:I introduce Bohmian Mechanics, which is a theory of particles in motion. The law of motion is not classical, i.e. the particles do not move on Newtonian trajectories. As this is often not appreciated I shall discuss some features which will help to sharpen one's intuition about this theory of nature. _______________________________________________ philphysmunich mailing list philphysmunich(a)lists.lrz.de https://lists.lrz.de/mailman/listinfo/philphysmunich

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