The Analysis of Theoretical Terms (April 3 - 5, 2013)
Idea & Motivation
This conference is dedicated to the philosophical analysis of theoretical terms. Topics include the logic and semantics of our scientific theories, the epistemology and metaphysics of theoretical terms, and the philosophical consequences of these analyses for the philosophy of science and mathematics.
Program
Wednesday 3rd April
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 09:30 - 10:00 | Coffee and Registration |
| 10:00 - 11:15 | Holger Andreas: Descriptivism About Theoretical Concepts Implies Ramsification or Conventionalism |
| 11:15 - 11:30 | Coffee Break |
| 11:30 - 12:10 | Michele Ginammi: Avoiding Reification |
| 12:10 - 12:50 | Xavier de Donato: Theoretical Terms, Ideal Objects and Zalta’s Abstract Object Theory |
| 12:50 - 14:30 | Lunch Break |
| 14:30 - 15:45 | Michela Massimi: Natural Kind Terms and Meaning Change |
| 15:45 - 16:00 | Coffee Break |
| 16:00 - 17:15 | Ulises Moulines: Causality and Theoretical Terms in Physics |
Thursday 4th April
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 09:30 - 10:00 | Coffee and Registration |
| 10:00 - 11:15 | Demetra Christopoulou: Implicitly Defining Mathematical Terms |
| 11:15 - 11:30 | Coffee Break |
| 11:30 - 12:10 | Gauvain Leconte: Definition, Introduction and Elimination of Theoretical Terms |
| 12:10 - 12:50 | Georg Schiemer: The Epsilon-Term Reconstruction of Theories and Scientific Structuralism |
| 12:50 - 14:30 | Lunch Break |
| 14:30 - 15:45 | Hannes Leitgeb: Theoretical Terms and Induction |
| 15:45 - 16:00 | Coffee Break |
| 16:00 - 17:15 | Jeffrey Ketland: Leibniz Equivalence |
| 17:15 - 17:30 | Coffee Break |
| 17:30 - 18:45 | Stathis Psillos: Causal Descriptivism Revisited |
| 20:00 | Conference Dinner |
Friday 5th April
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 09:30 - 10:00 | Coffee and Registration |
| 10:00 - 11:15 | Charlotte Werndl: Typicality in Statistical Physics |
| 11:15 - 11:30 | Coffee Break |
| 11:30 - 12:45 | Sebastian Lutz: The Criteria for the Empirical Significance of Terms |
| 12:45 - 14:30 | Lunch Break |
| 14:30 - 15:45 | John Worrall: Theoretical Terms, Ramsey Sentences and Structural Realism |
| 15:45 | Closing Words |
Acknowledgment
The conference is generously supported by the German Research Council (DFG), the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP) and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation through a Humboldt Professorship.