Exploring Scientific Method: Evidence, Explanation, and Unification in Science (8-9 May 2017)
Idea & Motivation
Philosophical investigation into scientific method is a well-established area within the philosophy of science. The aim of this workshop is to advance our understanding of three central topics within this investigation: the role that evidence plays in science; the structure of scientific explanations; and the role of unification in science. To this end, the following questions will be addressed. Concerning evidence: In what sense is it better to gather evidence from various sources? What does it mean for evidence to be reliable? Can biased research furnish good evidence? As regards explanation: How should we characterise causal explanation? Is causal explanation possible in quantum mechanics? How are various different forms of explanation in science related? Can certain of them be fruitfully thought of as species of a single genus? Finally, unification: What is the best way to characterise the inferential structure of certain types of unifying explanation? How do unifying hypotheses guide theory construction?
Organizing Committee
- Lorenzo Casini (Geneva/MCMP)
- Michael Cuffaro (University of Western Ontario/MCMP)
- Molly Kao (Université de Montréal)
- Reuben Stern (LMU Munich/MCMP)
Program
Day 1 (08 May 2017)
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 10:00 - 11:00 | Michael Cuffaro: Algorithmic How-Possibly Explanation |
| 11:15 - 12:15 | Laura Felline: A role for Mechanistic Explanation in Physics: the Measurement Problem |
| 12:15 - 14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 - 15:00 | Barbara Osimani: Reliability and Replication: Statistics Meets Formal Epistemology |
| 15:15 - 16:15 | Alex Reutlinger: What is Epistemically Wrong With Biased Research? |
| 16:30 - 17:30 | Lorenzo Casini and Radin Dardashti: How Minimal Models Explain -- Within and Outside Physics |
Day 2 (09 May 2017)
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 10:00 - 11:00 | Ben Eva and Reuben Stern: Asymmetric Explanatory Power |
| 11:15 - 12:15 | Andreas Hüttemann: Causation in an Explanatory Context |
| 12:15 - 14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 - 15:00 | Juergen Landes: Variety of Evidence |
| 15:15 - 16:15 | Molly Kao: Unification as a Strategy for Pursuit |
| 16:30 - 17:30 | Branden Fitelson: Confirmation, Causation, and Simpson’s Paradox |
Venue
Edmund-Rumpler-Str. 9
Room A 181
80939 München
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