The news section of the German Society for Philosophy of Science (GWP)

CfA: 2017 Summer School in Higher Education Research and Science Studies (University of Kassel, October 9–13, 2017)

Submitted by Susanne Höckelmann (University of Kassel).

Boundaries in Science and Higher Education (Research)

Call for Participation for the 2017 international Summer School in Higher Education Research and Science Studies.

The summer school “Boundaries in Science and Higher Education (Research)”, organized by the International Centre for Higher Education Research Kassel (INCHER-Kassel), will take place at the University of Kassel, Germany, October 9-13, 2017.

Sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the summer school aims at establishing a dialog among participants discussing, transcending and pushing forward the boundaries that cross science and higher education (research).

Please apply and — in case you would like to participate with a presentation or poster — submit an abstract (about one page) by June, 16th 2017 to <summerschool@incher.uni-kassel.de>. Letters of acceptance will be sent by July 3rd, 2017 as well as detailed information about the location, conference schedule and accommodation options.

For more information please see <http://www.uni-kassel.de/go/summerschool2017>.

Please feel free to forward this information to other interested persons.

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CfP: GAP-Doktorandenworkshop Wissenschaftsphilosophie 2017 (Leibniz Universität Hannover, Mai 12-13, 2017)

Submitted by Torsten Wilholt (Leibniz Universität Hannover).

Call for Papers: GAP-Doktorandenworkshop Wissenschaftsphilosophie 2017

Leibniz Universität Hannover, 12.-13. Mai 2017
veranstaltet von Torsten Wilholt, Uljana Feest und Mathias Frisch in Zusammenarbeit mit der Gesellschaft für Analytische Philosophie

Bewerbungsschluss: 23. April 2017

Webseite: http://www.philos.uni-hannover.de/gapworkshop2017.html

Der Workshop richtet sich an DoktorandInnen im Fach Philosophie, die sich in ihren Forschungsprojekten mit Fragen der Wissenschaftsphilosophie beschäftigen. Er bietet ihnen die Möglichkeit, sich untereinander und mit einschlägig ausgewiesenen PhilosophInnen über ihre Projekte und erste Forschungsergebnisse auszutauschen. Da die Teilnehmerzahl aus organisatorischen Gründen begrenzt werden muss, wird es ein Auswahlverfahren geben.
Der Workshop wird am Freitagmorgen beginnen und bis zum Samstagmittag oder frühen Nachmittag dauern.

Ablauf:
20 bis 25-minütige Vorträge der TeilnehmerInnen mit anschließender Diskussion; zusätzlich ausführliche individuelle Feedbackgespräche mit je zwei einschlägig ausgewiesenen PhilosophInnen.

Bewerbungen bis zum 23. April:
Bewerben können sich Personen, die in Deutschland, Österreich oder der Schweiz promovieren.
Alle Bewerbungsunterlagen sind elektronisch (als PDF) einzureichen:
1) ein kurzer Lebenslauf
2) eine kurze Projektskizze (2-4 Seiten)

Kosten:
50 Euro Tagungsgebühr. Für TeilnehmerInnen, die auf kein Stipendium und keine Mittel ihrer Heimatuniversität zurückgreifen können, wird die GAP versuchen, die Tagungsgebühr und eventuell Reisekosten in Höhe von bis zu 80 Euro zu übernehmen.

Nachfragen und Bewerbungsunterlagen an:
Prof. Dr. Torsten Wilholt, torsten.wilholt@philos.uni-hannover.de

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CfA: Postdoctoral Research Associate in causal learning and automated scientific discovery (Virginia Tech)

Submitted by Benjamin Jantzen (Virginia Tech).

Postdoctoral Research Associate in causal learning and automated scientific discovery

A 1-year postdoc position (with the possibility of renewal for an additional year) is available in the area of causal learning and automated scientific discovery. The successful applicant will explore the formal connections between causal learning in the graphical causal modeling tradition and the algorithmic determination of natural kinds (classes of causal structures that support law-like generalizations useful for prediction and control). This work is part of a larger project to develop methods for learning natural kinds and for discovering novel features (or variables) of scientific relevance. This project offers the opportunity to participate in active collaborations with ecologists, climate scientists, bioengineers, and cognitive scientists. The mentor for this position is Dr. Benjamin Jantzen, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Assistant Professor of Computer Science (by courtesy) at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. The position start date is June 1, 2017.

Candidates must have a Ph.D. in computer science, formal philosophy, applied math, statistics, or other related field at the time of appointment and a strong background in machine learning or graphical causal modeling. Candidates must have a rank-appropriate record of scholarship and collaboration in research on computational approaches to empirical learning, broadly construed. Programming proficiency (especially in Python) is desirable.

Qualified applicants must electronically submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, and at least two letters of recommendation to jobs.vt.edu. Apply to posting #SR0160187. Applicant screening will begin on March 15, 2017 and continue until the position is filled. Inquiries should be directed to Dr. Benjamin Jantzen, Search Committee Chair, bjantzen@vt.edu. Virginia Tech is committed to building a culturally diverse faculty and strongly encourages applications from women and minorities.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, or veteran status; or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees, or applicants; or any other basis protected by law.

For inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies, contact the Office of Equity and Accessibility at 540-231-2010 or Virginia Tech, North End Center, Suite 2300 (0318), 300 Turner St. NW, Blacksburg, VA 24061.

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CfA: Two Doctoral fellowships at the MCMP (LMU Munich, April 2, 2017)

Submitted by Stephan Hartmann (MCMP, LMU Munich).

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Two Doctoral fellowships at the MCMP (LMU Munich)

MCMP, LMU Munich

http://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/news/doc_fellows_2017/index.html
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The Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP) seeks applications for two 3-year doctoral fellowships starting on October 1, 2017. (A later starting date is possible.)
We are especially interested in candidates who want to work on a topic from one of the following fields: general philosophy of science, social epistemology, Bayesian epistemology, Bayesian philosophy of science, philosophy of physics, and decision theory.

Application deadline: April 2 2017

For more information and details see: http://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/news/doc_fellows_2017/index.html

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EPSA Fellowships: Call for Institutional Partners

Submitted by Stephan Hartmann (MCMP, LMU Munich).

 

Call for Institutional Partners

The European Philosophy of Science Association (EPSA) is looking for institutional partners to participate as host institutions in its scheme of “EPSA Fellowships for junior philosophers working in Central and Eastern Europe”. Participating institutions would host a fellow for approximately one month in the academic year 2018/19, and they would cover his/her travel, accommodation and living expenses during that time.

The aim of the scheme is to foster contact and collaboration between philosophers of science working in Eastern Europe with their colleagues in Western Europe. Fellowships are aimed at philosophers of science who have been awarded their PhD no more than ten years prior to the application deadline and who work in one of the following countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

EPSA is organising the fellowships for the second time after a successful first round in the academic year 2015/16. The first round of fellowships was made possible due to the generous participation of the following institutions:

  • Academy of Finland Centre of Excellence in the Philosophy of the Social Sciences (TINT), University of Helsinki, Finland
  • Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science, Ghent University, Belgium
  • Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science (CPNSS), London School of Economics, U.K.
  • Department of Philosophy, University of Bergen, Norway
  • Descartes Centre for the History and Philosophy of the Sciences and the Humanities,University of Utrecht, The Netherlands
  • Duesseldorf Center for Logic and Philosophy of Science (DCLPS), Germany
  • Egenis – the Centre for the Study of Life Sciences, University of Exeter, U.K.
  • Erasmus Institute for Philosophy and Economics (EIPE), Faculty of Philosophy, Erasmus University of Rotterdam, The Netherlands
  • Faculty of Philosophy, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
  • Institute for History and Philosophy of Science and Techniques (IHPST), University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, France
  • Institute of Philosophy, University of Hannover, Germany
  • Institute Vienna Circle, University of Vienna, Austria
  • LOGOS Group and Department of Logic, History and Philosophy of Science, University of Barcelona, Spain
  • Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP), LMU Munich, Germany

Most of these institutions are going to participate again in the 2018/19 round. EPSA now seeks to broaden the group even further. If your institution would like to join the above and participate in the scheme, please contact Raffaella Campaner (raffaella.campaner@unibo.it) or Roman Frigg (r.p.frigg@lse.ac.uk) before the end of April.

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CfP: The Second Law of Thermodynamics (LMU Munich, September 1-2, 2017)

Submitted by Erik Curiel (MCMP, LMU Munich).

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The Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy invites abstracts for the following event:

The Second Law of Thermodynamics

MCMP, LMU Munich

September 1-2, 2017

http://www.lmu.de/secondlaw2017
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The attempt to understand the Second Law of thermodynamics occupies a central role in the foundations of physics: not only is it of great importance in its own right, but it also ramifies into a host of other problems of fundamental physical and philosophical import, from the arrow of time and the nature of spacetime to issues of probability, causality, predictability, and determinism, and even to the nature of memory and agency. This will be the first major conference since the 1950s to address all foundational issues associated with the Second Law, and to try to examine how they all bear on each other. Invited physicists and philosophers will be chosen to represent issues pertaining to the Second Law from many different fields in physics and philosophy (classical thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, quantum field theory, gravity), in an attempt to foster a dialogue among those addressing problems associated with the Second Law in the different fields. Such a gathering will spur new, innovative approaches to the problem, as well as connecting and invigorating work on existing approaches. It will also provide young researchers with a comprehensive introduction to the state of the art of this central field of research, and established researchers with a comprehensive overview.

Call for abstracts

We invite the submission of paper abstracts for the conference.
Abstracts should include a title, a brief abstract (up to 200 words), and a full abstract (up to 1000 words), blinded for peer review. They should be PDF files, submitted to the conference’s EasyChair account. We will select 4 submissions for presentation at the conference.

We plan to publish the proceedings of the conference as a special issue of a leading journal (e.g., Foundations of Physics).
Depending on the funding situation, it is likely that the conference organizers will be able to partly subsidize the traveling and accommodation costs for those whose submitted abstracts are accepted, or even to cover all costs. This will be determined by the end of the summer.

We are committed to fostering diversity and equality in our programs. Submissions from underrepresented groups are particularly welcome. The conference will be organized and run under the MCMP’s code of conduct.

Registration

Please send registration requests by 15 Aug 2017 to the co-organizer Neil Dewar. The email should have the subject: “register second law” and contain your name and affiliation as you would like it to appear on your conference name-tag. Also please indicate whether you plan to attend the conference dinner (01 Sep, 2017). The fees for the conference and dinner are as follows.

Senior researchers with permanent positions (associate and full professors, etc.): conference fee EUR 40
Junior researchers (assistant professors, post-docs, etc.): conference fee EUR 25
Students (masters, doctoral, etc.): no conference fee

Cost for conference dinner (for everyone): EUR 30

Dates and Deadines

Deadlines for Submission: May 1 2017
Date of Notification: May 31 2017
Registration Deadline: August 15 2017

Organizers

Erik Curiel
Neil Dewar

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CfA: Two Postdoctoral fellowships at the MCMP (LMU Munich)

Submitted by Stephan Hartmann (MCMP, LMU Munich).

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Two Postdoctoral fellowships at the MCMP (LMU Munich)

MCMP, LMU Munich
http://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/news/post_doc_2017/index.html

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The Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP) seeks applications for two 2-year postdoctoral fellowships starting on October 1, 2017. (A later starting date is possible.)
We are especially interested in candidates who work in one or more of the following fields: general philosophy of science, social epistemology, philosophy and psychology of reasoning and argumentation, Bayesian epistemology, Bayesian philosophy of science, philosophy of physics, and decision theory. Some teaching (in English) is possible, but not required.

Application deadline: March 25th 2017

For more information and details see: http://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/news/post_doc_2017/index.html

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CfP: Causation, Explanation, Conditionals (MCMP/GSN at LMU Munich, June 21-23, 2017)

Submitted by Mario Günther, LMU Munich.

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Causation, Explanation, Conditionals

MCMP/GSN, LMU Munich

June 21-23, 2017

http://www.cec2017.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/index.html
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The analysis of causation and explanation has served as a major motivation for investigating conditionals, developing conditional logics, Bayesian networks, ranking theory, Ramsey Tests, and possible worlds semantics. This analysis, consequently, has evolved into a very fruitful and proliferating research program employing various logical and probabilistic approaches. The overarching objective of this conference is to bring together people working on and with conditional analyses of causation and explanation. More
specifically, we aim to address the following topics:

(1) Explanatory conditionals, semantic foundations and conditional logics
(2) Conditional, logical analyses of causation and explanation
(3) Conditional probabilities in accounts of causation and explanation
(4) Resolving problems of overdetermination, preemption, etc.
(5) Cognition of conditionals, causal, and explanatory relations
(6) Knowledge representation of causal and explanatory relations
(7) The application of causal analyses and/or frameworks in Neuroscience
(8) Expressivistic and computational limitations in the respective framework

Call for papers

Scholars working on causation, explanation, conditionals and/or related research are invited to submit an extended abstract (max. 1000 words) for presentation
at the workshop. The time slots for the presentation of contributed papers will be 45 or 60 minutes, depending on the number of submissions we receive. We especially encourage submissions from PhD students and early-career researchers.

Now open for submissions!

Please submit a short abstract (max. 100 words) and an extended abstract (max. 1000 words) through the easychair automatic submission system. Prepare both of your abstracts for blind review and save your extended abstract as a PDF file. Then follow the link to our easychair site. If you have never used easychair before you will need to create an account. When logged in, go to the new submission page. Include your 100 word abstract and upload the PDF file of your extended abstract.

Dates and Deadines

Deadline of Submission: April 1, 2017
Date of Notification: May 1, 2017
Date Conference: June 21-23, 2017

Organizer
Mario Günther

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CfA: 2nd Call for applications: Summer School on Mathematical Philosophy for Female Students (LMU Munich, July 30 – August 5, 2017)

Submitted by Samuel Fletcher, MCMP, LMU Munich.

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The Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy invites applications for the following event:

SUMMER SCHOOL ON MATHEMATICAL PHILOSOPHY FOR FEMALE STUDENTS 2017

MCMP, LMU Munich

July 30 – August 5, 2017

http://www.mathsummer.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/index.html
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The Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP) is organizing the fourth Summer School on Mathematical Philosophy for Female Students, which will be held from July 30 to August 5, 2017 in Munich, Germany. The summer school is open to excellent female students who want to specialize in mathematical philosophy.

Since women are significantly underrepresented in philosophy generally and in formal philosophy in particular, this summer school is aimed at encouraging women to engage with mathematical methods and apply them to philosophical problems. This year the focus of the summer school will be to provide a framework for developing expertise in formal approaches used in (1) philosophy of language, (2) philosophy of logic, and (3) philosophy of mathematics. The summer school will offer the opportunity for study in an informal setting, for lively debate, and for the development of a network with students and professors interested in the application of formal methods in philosophy. Finally, being located at the MCMP, the summer school will also provide a stimulating and interdisciplinary environment for meeting like-minded philosophers.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS:
We invite applications from female students at an advanced undergraduate level, in a master program, or at an early PhD level. Detailed
information on the application process is available here:
http://www.mathsummer.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/call-for-application/index.html
The deadline for applications is March 5, 2017. Decisions will be made by March 20, 2017.

LECTURE STREAMS
·Semantic Paradoxes and Self-Reference, by Roy Cook (University of Minnesota, Twin Cities)
·The Model Theory of Logical and Mathematical Concepts, by Juliette Kennedy (University of Helsinki)
·Conditional Sentences and Causal Reasoning, by Katrin Schulz (University of Amsterdam)

PUBLIC EVENING LECTURE
·Intellectual Arrogance and Vanity in Debate and Testimony, by Alessandra Tanesini (Cardiff University)

The summer school is organized by Marianna Antonutti, Samuel C. Fletcher, Lavinia Picollo, and Gil Sagi.
For further information please contact Marianna Antonutti at mathsummer2017@lrz.uni-muenchen.de.

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CfP: Salzburg Conference for Young Analytic Philosophy: SOPhiA 2017 (University of Salzburg, September 13 – 15, 2017)

Submitted by Alexander Gebharter, DCLPS, University of Duesseldorf.

Salzburg Conference for Young Analytic Philosophy: SOPhiA 2017
September 13 – 15, 2017
Department of Philosophy (Humanities), University of Salzburg, Austria

Aim
SOPhiA 2017 provides an opportunity for students and doctoral candidates in philosophy to take a first peek into the philosophical business and to get in touch with prospective or well established philosophers. Contributions in every discipline of philosophy (epistemology, ethics, logic, metaphysics, philosophy of religion, philosophy of science, etc.) are welcome. As common in analytic philosophy, contributors should make use of understandable language as well as rational argumentation. In addition to the conference presentations there will also be affiliated workshops on selected topics in analytic philosophy.

Keynote Speakers

  • Johannes Brandl (University of Salzburg)
  • Christian List (London School of Economics)
  • Michela Massimi (University of Edinburgh)
  • Stathis Psillos (University of Athens)

Affiliated workshops

  • Formal Approaches to Prototype Concepts (Organizers: Annika Schuster & Corina Stroessner, University of Duesseldorf)
  • Grounding in and after Bolzano (Organizers: Antje Rumberg & Jan Claas, Constance & Hamburg)
  • Modeling Physical Reality (Organizer: Florian Boge, Wuppertal)
  • The Power to Change: Dispositions and Persistence (Organizer: Florian Fischer, Bonn)
  • Values in Science: Perspectives from Philosophy of Science, Ethics, and Language Philosophy (Organizers: Frauke Albersmeier & Alexander Christian, Duesseldorf)

Call for papers
Students and doctoral candidates (pre-doc) in philosophy are encouraged to submit an abstract (in English or German) prepared for double-blind review. We are committed to fostering diversity and equality in our programs. Submissions from underrepresented groups are particularly welcome. Abstracts should not exceed 2.000 characters. All submissions should be suitable for a presentation of approximately 20 minutes in length (plus 10 minutes discussion). Please submit your abstract with a biographical note and a short CV attached in a separate document at http://www.sophia-conference.org/ until May 1, 2017. Attendees are asked to register at the same site before the conference.

SOPhiA best paper award
Contributors are also invited to submit a full paper (from 4.000 up to 8.000 words) not including any author or affiliation information. A selection of full papers will be published in KRITERION — Journal of Philosophy. The best contribution will also be awarded with 250 EUR at SOPhiA 2017. Please prepare your full paper according to the guidelines available at http://www.kriterion-journal-of-philosophy.org/ and submit it via e-mail (subject line: SOPhiA 2017) to editor@kriterion-journal-of-philosophy.org. Please note that only full papers in English submitted before the general deadline (May 1, 2017) can be considered for the SOPhiA best paper award.

Important dates
Submission deadline: May 1, 2017
Notification deadline: June 1, 2017
Website: http://sophia-conference.org/

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CfP: Reasoning and Argumentation in Science (LMU Munich, May 31 – June 2, 2017)

Submitted by Stephan Hartmann, MCMP, LMU Munich.

Call for Papers
Reasoning and Argumentation in Science
Center for Advanced Studies, LMU Munich
31 May – 2 June 2017
http://tinyurl.com/RASCAS

 

Progress in science is not only a matter of new models and theories, but also of new ways of reasoning and arguing for specific conclusions. In this conference, we focus on these epistemological features of science and consider the following questions: Which new reasoning and argumentation schemes do contemporary scientists use­­? How are these schemes justified, and how can they be assessed? Is it possible to come up with a unified normative theory of reasoning and argumentation in science? The conference focuses on reasoning and argumentation in the sciences in general, but there will also be a special focus on reasoning in specific natural and social sciences.
Topics of the conference will include, but are not limited to:

  1. The general classification and analysis of patterns of reasoning and argumentation used in contemporary science.
  2. The philosophical and formal investigation of specific instances of the application of non-standard forms of reasoning and argumentation in the natural and social sciences.
  3. The application of logical and probabilistic methods to the study of scientific reasoning and argumentation.

Keynote Speakers

  • Catarina Dutilh Noaves (University of Groningen)
  • Christian List (London School of Economics)
  • Wayne Myrvold (University of Western Ontario)

We invite submissions for presentations on any topic relating to reasoning and argumentation in science, broadly construed. Submissions should include both a short abstract (max. 100 words) and an extended abstract (500-1000 words), and should be made through our automatic submission system by 1 March, 2017. To submit, please prepare your abstract for blind review and follow the instructions on the webpage.

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CfP: Progress in Science & Society – Workshop with P. Kitcher (Hannover, June 14)

Submitted by Markus Dressel, University of Hannover.

Call for Abstracts:

PROGRESS IN SCIENCE AND SOCIETY – Workshop with Philip Kitcher

June 14, 2017 | Leibniz University Hannover | Deadline for submissions: March 12, 2017

Topic
Is the notion of progress suitable to analyze such disparate endeavors as science, ethics, the economy or society as a whole? If so, what conceptual assumptions does such a notion require? In a recent contribution, Philip Kitcher suggested that progress has to be understood as the successful attempt to solve pragmatic problems. Consequently, whether or not a development can be called progressive depends on the contextual aims of the involved agents. Since these aims can legitimately vary, progress is a local phenomenon. However, Kitcher also pursues a universalist strategy: Pragmatic problem solving should help to realize the all-embracing goal of creating a good life for all. For Kitcher, this “Ethical Project” reaches back to the early stages of human evolution and serves as the ultimate touchstone for progress. Science, for instance, makes progress if it is devoted to problems of human wellbeing and if it finds solutions to these problems that promote practical realizations of the good life.

In a one day workshop at Leibniz Universität Hannover, we will discuss the merits and challenges of the notion of progress. A special emphasis will be put on progress in science and ethics as well as the work of Philip Kitcher regarding these fields. However, progress in further areas (economy, law, politics) as well as contributions unrelated to Kitcher are also welcome. Philip Kitcher will be present at the workshop and give a keynote lecture. Furthermore, he will give a public evening lecture on Monday, March 12.

Submissions
We invite submissions for 30 minutes talks (plus 20 minutes discussion); there are four to five free slots. Please submit a short abstract including no more than 200 words and an extended abstract with no more than 750 words. Abstracts need to be submitted in an anonymized document (PDF or DOC) together with the title of the talk. Please send the document, attached to an email that states your name, affiliation and position as well as the title of the talk, to admissions@philos.uni-hannover.de. The deadline is March 12, 2017. Notice of acceptance will be sent out two weeks later. We might be able to provide limited travel reimbursement for accepted speakers (only for PhD students without any other travel funding; please indicate in your email if you would like to qualify for this). Participants who do not give a talk are also welcome and are asked to register in advance. There is no registration fee.

Organizers
The workshop is organized by the DFG research training group “Integrating Ethics and Epistemology of Scientific Research”, a joint project of Leibniz University Hannover and Bielefeld University. It aims at bridging the gap between theoretical and practical philosophy of science. The GRK is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Organization committee: Markus Dressel, Saana Jukola, Roel Visser

Further information: www.grk2073.org

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CfP: AGPhil-Workshop “Epistemology of Big Data in Physics”, (Bremen, 13.-17. März 2017)

Submitted by Meinard Kuhlmann, University of Mainz.

Call for Papers (CfP): AGPhil-Workshop “Epistemology of Big Data in Physics”, 13. – 17.3.2017, Bremen

Die Arbeitsgruppe “Philosophie der Physik” (AGPhil) beteiligt sich auch im kommenden Jahr wieder an einer der Frühjahrstagungen der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft (DPG), vom 13. – 17.3.2017 in Bremen (http://bremen17.dpg-tagungen.de/index.html?set_language=de&cl=de). Einreichungen zu jedem Thema in der Philosophie der Physik sind möglich.

Die AGPhil organisiert ein Symposium zu “Epistemology of Big Data in Physics” (16.-17.3.2017). Es geht um einen interdisziplinären Austausch zwischen Philosophen und Wissenschaftlern, die zu Bereichen der Physik arbeiten, in denen große Datenmengen eine Rolle spielen, z.B. am CERN oder in den Klimawissenschaften. Als Sprecher zugesagt haben bisher: Claus Beisbart (Bern), David Bresch (Zürich), Koray Karaca (Twente), Balázs Kégl (Paris), Johannes Lenhard (Bielefeld) und Wolfgang Pietsch (München). Einreichungen zur Rolle von Daten in der Physik sind daher besonders willkommen.

Die AGPhil beteiligt sich außerdem an einem gemeinsamen Symposium zu “Cosmic Censorship” mit den Fachverbänden Gravitation und Relativitätstheorie, Theoretische und Mathematische Grundlagen sowie der Astronomischen Gesellschaft (13.3.2017). Eingeladener Sprecher vonseiten der AGPhil ist Eric Curiel (München).

Kurzvorträge von 30 Minuten Länge (inklusive Diskussion) können noch bis zum 8.1.2017 angemeldet werden: https://www.dpg-tagung.de/hb17/submission.html?language=de

Wir freuen uns auf Ihre Einsendungen,
Meinard Kuhlmann
Wolfgang Pietsch

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CfA: PhD Candidates, Philosophy of Biology, University of Münster, Germany

Submitted by Ulrich Krohs, University of Muenster.

Start: 1st April 2017. 3-year positions (TV-L E13 65 %).
Deadline for applications: 8th of January, 2017.

The new DFG-funded Research Training Group “Evolutionary Processes in Adaptation and Disease” (EvoPAD, GRK 2220) unites biological, medical, and philosophical research at the University of Münster, Germany. The core idea is to use the theory of evolution to understand processes leading to adaptation and/or disease. 12 PhD students will work on advancing evolutionary theory, and in turn, apply modern evolutionary approaches to medical questions.

Projects in philosophy:

Project C1: Kinds of explanation in accounts of pathogen evolution.
Philosophy of science has recognized various kinds of evolutionary explanations. Evolutionary biology, however, relies also on functional and physiological explanations. It was hardly ever asked how those different kinds of explanation could be blended. The project investigates the spectrum of explanations in evolutionary biology. In particular, it focuses on the intricate cases in which physiological and evolutionary explanations supplement each other, as is the case in the explanation of pathogen evolution in pathogen-host systems. It will also inquire singular evolutionary explanation and relate the findings to arguments about singular causation.
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Krohs (ulrich.krohs@uni-muenster.de).

Project C2: Disease, health and enhancement as thick concepts in the context of evolutionary medicine.
Concepts as ‘health’, ‘normality’ (or ‘normal functions’) and ‘quality of life’ do not only have descriptive content, but do have normative content, too, which is used in ethical arguments to forbid enhancement on the one hand and to accept therapy as ethically acceptable in principle. Since empirical findings both in evolutionary biology and evolutionary medicine will cause shifts of meaning concerning ‘normality’, ‘health’, ‘organismic integrity’ or ‘quality of life’ the ethical question — to be examined in this project — arises which consequences this will have for our biomedical ethics especially in the context of evolutionary medicine but for biomedical ethics in general, too.
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Quante.

Applications from women are particularly encouraged. Disabled candidates with equivalent qualifications will be preferentially considered.

Applications should be sent by e-mail as one PDF file (max. 5 MB) to the EvoPAD Coordinator Dr. Vanessa Kloke (appl.evopad@uni-muenster.de) by January 8th, 2017. Please indicate in the cover letter the project that you would like to apply for and also give a second choice (if wanted).

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by Skype between 17th – 20th January 2017. The most promising candidates will then be invited to Münster to take part in an admissions workshop on 2nd & 3rd February 2017 (travel costs and accommodation will be reimbursed).

For further information visit
http://www.uni-muenster.de/EvoPAD/application/index.html

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CfR: Positivismus als gesellschaftliches und politisches Projekt

Submitted by Markus Seidel, University of Münster.

Positivismus als gesellschaftliches und politisches Projekt

Universität Münster, Senatssaal, Schlossplatz 2

19.01.2017, 9:00 Uhr bis 19:00 Uhr

Obwohl der Ausdruck ‚Positivismus‘ vielfältig verwendet wird, kann darunter nichtsdestotrotz der Versuch gefasst werden, die Voraussetzungen der Erfolgsgeschichte der Naturwissenschaften theoretisch zu erfassen und auf alle wissenschaftlichen Disziplinen zu übertragen. Darin lässt sich in nuce auch ein gesellschaftspolitisches Projekt sehen: Auch die Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften sollen zum gesellschaftlichen Fortschritt beitragen, statt sich in müßigen Spekulationen und Glasperlenspielen zu ergehen. Nicht selten wurde dieses Projekt als unkritisch und politisch konservativ eingestuft—speziell im Kontext der Diskussion um den sogenannten logischen Positivismus.
Die Tagung hat zum Ziel, den gesellschaftspolitischen Ambitionen hinter positivistischen Strömungen nachzuspüren und miteinander in Bezug zu setzen. Dabei soll der Bogen sowohl historisch von Mill über Comte, den Wiener Kreis bis hin zu heutigen Erscheinungsformen als auch gleichzeitig disziplinär breit von der Ökonomie über die Erziehungs- und Sozialwissenschaften, die Rechtswissenschaften und die Wissenschaftstheorie geschlagen werden.

Programm:

09:00-09:15 Begrüßung
09:15-10:15 Simon Derpmann (Münster): Mills politische Ökonomie als soziales Ingenieurwesen
10:15-11:15 Hans-Joachim Dahms (Wien): Comte – Ostwald – Carnap: eine (weitgehend unbekannte) Traditionslinie der positivistischen Aufklärung
11:15-11:30 Kaffeepause
11:30-12:30 Anne Siegetsleitner (Innsbruck): Die wissenschaftliche Weltauffassung des Wiener Kreises als moralische und politische Positionierung
12:30-14:30 Mittagspause
14:30-15:30 Thomas Uebel (Manchester): Sozialisierungstheorie und Logischer Empirismus
15:30-16:30 Eric Hilgendorf (Würzburg): Erscheinungsformen des Positivismus im Recht
16:30-16:45 Kaffeepause
16:45-17:45 Josef Lindner (Augsburg): Politische Dimensionen des Rechtspositivismus
17:45-18:45 Rainer Hegselmann (Frankfurt): Wissenschaftliche Weltauffassung heute: Wissenschaftsintegration, – reflexion und – kommunikation als übergreifende Bildungsziele
18:45-19:00 Verabschiedung

Die Tagung wird vom Zentrum für Wissenschaftstheorie (ZfW) der WWU Münster in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Lehrstuhl für Strafrecht, Strafprozessrecht, Rechtstheorie, Informationsrecht und Rechtsinformatik der Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg veranstaltet.

Organisatoren:

* Dr. Markus Seidel, ZfW, Westf. Wilhelms-Universität Münster
* Prof. Dr. Dr. Eric Hilgendorf, Juristische Fakultät, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg

Die Teilnahme an der Tagung ist kostenlos. Aufgrund der beschränkten Platzkapazitäten wird um eine Anmeldung gebeten bei: Claudia Güstrau, claudia.guestrau@wwu.de

Kontakt: Markus Seidel, markus.seidel@wwu.de

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CfA: Master’s Program in STS at the Munich Center for Technology in Society

Submitted by Anna Kellerer, TU Munich.

Master’s program in STS at the Munich Center for Technology in Society

Application is possible from January 01 until May 31 2017.

The Munich Center for Technology in Society (MCTS) of the TU Munich launched its new Master’s program in Science and Technology Studies this year. It is an English language program. Next application will be possible from January 01 2017 on.

Please forward this information to any students who might be interested in obtaining a Master’s in degree in STS.

The STS Master’s Program at MCTS is empirical, interdisciplinary, reflexive and research oriented.

From bio-technology to energy transitions, from automated mobility to data security – the big challenges of todays’ societies are inseparably connected to scientific, technical and social questions. The Master’s program Science and Technology Studies (STS) will teach you how to reflexively research, develop problem-solving skills and critically intervene in the big socio-technical issues of our time.

In the Master’s program you will learn:

  • empirical research methods and analytical skills to study the conditions and consequences of contemporary science and technology
  • interdisciplinary approaches to urgent questions about regulation, responsibility and sustainability of science and technology

Alongside the STS Master’s program, we offer specializations in the Philosophy of Science and Technology or the History of Science and Technology.

The STS Master’s program is research oriented. The program prepares you for future academic research (such as a PhD), as well as careers in science and technology management, science communication and journalism, and in science funding and policy.

Studying the Master’s program STS will equip you to deal with the challenges and to embrace the opportunities of todays’ technologized societies.

Watch the video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/raWnTy9QDaA

PLEASE NOTE:

  • The application platform for the new Master’s program opens at January 01 2017. The application period will close on May 31 2017.
  • If you are interested in the program or have any questions, please send an email to sts@mcts.tum.de.

More information is provided on our website: www.mcts.tum.de.

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CfR: Transdisziplinarität. Die Wissenschaft und die vielen Felder des Wissens

Submitted by Ulrich Krohs, University of Muenster.

Transdisziplinarität. Die Wissenschaft und die vielen Felder des Wissens

WWU Münster, Festsaal, Schlossplatz 3,08.12.2016 9:00 bis 09.12.2016 13:30.
Anmeldung an: carmen.carnein@rub.de
Programm: http://www.uni-muenster.de/Wissenschaftstheorie/veranstaltungen/transdisziplinaritaet.html

Wissenschaft “schafft” Wissen. Aber Wissen entsteht nicht nur in der Wissenschaft, und die Wissenschaft schafft ihr Wissen nicht alleine; eine Vielzahl von Sozialsystemen ist daran beteiligt. Kooperation zwischen gesellschaftlichen Großsystemen (“Sektoren”) bringt spezifische Herausforderungen mit sich: Der Wissenschaft geht es um Wahrheit, der Wirtschaft um Gewinn, der Politik um Wiederwahl. Was kann die Wissenschaftstheorie zur Zusammenarbeit zwischen den Wissenschaften und den anderen Sozialsystemen sagen? Wie verändern sich wissenschaftliche Disziplinen, wenn sie sich auf eine Kooperation mit außerwissenschaftlichen Systemen oder Sektoren einlassen? Wie lassen sich Grenzen der Zusammenarbeit von Wissenschaft mit nichtwissenschaftlichen Sozialsystemen wissenschaftstheoretisch analysieren? Der Workshop wird vom Zentrum für Wissenschaftstheorie (ZfW) in Zusammenarbeit mit der Arbeitsstelle für Forschungstransfer (AFO) der Universität Münster und der FernUniversität Hagen veranstaltet.

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CFP: Society for the Metaphysics of Science (3d Annual Conference), New York.

Submitted by Markus Schrenk, University of Duesseldorf.

After two successful meetings (at Rutgers, Newark in 2015 and the University of Geneva in 2016), the Society for the Metaphysics of Science (SMS) will be holding its third annual conference on October 5-7, 2017 at Fordham University, New York.

Our keynote speaker will be
Michael Strevens (NYU)

In addition, Jessica Wilson (U Toronto) will deliver a presidential address.

All other sessions will comprise submitted papers.

As well as various presentations, the conference will also feature an organizational meeting of the Society which will elect officers, continue to make various policies, plan future conferences, etc. Both those interested in presenting papers and/or participating in the Society are invited to the conference.

For more information on the society, see the Society for the Metaphysics of Science web page. SMS also has a facebook page.

At the conference, presentations will be 30 minutes, with a 10 minutes comment, 5 min reply, and 15 minutes for Q&A. Submissions should be on a topic in the metaphysics of science broadly construed, of no more than 4,500 words and should include an abstract of ~150 words and a word count. All papers must employ gender-neutral language and be prepared for blind review.

Submissions must be made using the EasyChair online submission system at https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=sms2017
The submission deadline is March 1, 2017. Notifications of acceptance will be delivered by May 15, 2017. Selected speakers should confirm their participation before May 22, 2017.

The conference will have a $50 registration fee for faculty and post-docs, $10 for graduate students, $1 for emeritus faculty.

The Society would like to thank the Department of Philosophy at Fordham University for support.

Contact mkistler[AT]univ-paris1[DOT]fr for further information.

Program Committee:
Max Kistler, (U Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne), Chair
Valia Allori (Northern Illinois U)
Laura Franklin-Hall (New York U)
Carl Gillett (Northern Illinois U)
Thomas Pradeu (CNRS and U Bordeaux)
Johanna Wolff (LMU Munich)

On behalf of:
Jessica Wilson, President, Society for the Metaphysics of Science
William Jaworski, Chair of the Local Organizing Committee, SMS 2017
Max Kistler, Chair of the Program Committee, SMS 2017
Ken Aizawa, Secretary/Treasurer SMS

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CfA: W2-Professur “Studium Generale/Wissenschaftsreflexion” JGU Mainz

Submitted by Ralf Busse, University of Mainz.

Philosophisches Seminar, JGU Mainz: Stellenausschreibung

An der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (JGU) ist zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt die Stelle einer


Universitätsprofessorin oder eines Universitätsprofessors als
Leiterin oder Leiter des Studium generale
(Bes.Gr. W 2 LBesG)

zu besetzen. Das Studium generale der JGU ist Studium integrale und Bürgeruniversität zugleich und erfüllt seine Aufgaben als zentrale wissenschaftliche Einrichtung in Kooperation und Abstimmung mit den Fachbereichen, den künstlerischen Hochschulen sowie weiteren zentralen Einrichtungen der Universität. Es bietet fachlich übergreifende und curricular verankerte Lehrveranstaltungen an, organisiert in jedem Semester thematisch orientierte Vorträge und Ringvorlesungen für Hörerinnen und Hörer aller Fachbereiche sowie für die Universitätsöffentlichkeit und richtet die von der Vereinigung der Freunde der Universität Mainz e.V. eingerichtete Johannes Gutenberg-Stiftungsprofessur aus.

Die ausgeschriebene Professur wird korporationsrechtlich einem Fachbereich der JGU zugeordnet.

Die Bewerberinnen und Bewerber sollen den Bereich Wissenschaftsreflexion (z.B. Wissenschaftsethik, -geschichte, -philosophie, -soziologie oder -theorie) in Forschung und Lehre vertreten und über einschlägige Lehrerfahrungen sowie über Erfahrungen in interdisziplinären Wissenschaftskontexten verfügen. Erfahrungen in der Personalführung sowie in der Einwerbung von Drittmitteln sind erwünscht. Die Leitung des Studium generale bietet vielfältige Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten. Es wird erwartet, dass die Stelleninhaberin oder der Stelleninhaber innerhalb von zwei Jahren nach Dienstantritt ein überzeugendes Konzept zur Weiterentwicklung des Studium generale vorlegt.

Die Bewerberinnen und Bewerber müssen neben den allgemeinen dienstrechtlichen Voraussetzungen die in § 49 des rheinland-pfälzischen Hochschulgesetzes geforderten Einstellungsvoraussetzungen erfüllen. Neben der Promotion sind weitere hervorragende wissenschaftliche Leistungen sowie eine deutlich überdurchschnittliche hochschulpädagogische Eignung nachzuweisen.

Das Land Rheinland-Pfalz und die Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz vertreten ein Konzept der intensiven Betreuung der Studierenden und erwarten deshalb eine hohe Präsenz der Lehrenden an der Universität.

Die JGU ist bestrebt, den Anteil der Frauen im wissenschaftlichen Bereich zu erhöhen und bittet daher insbesondere Wissenschaftlerinnen sich zu bewerben. Schwerbehinderte werden bei entsprechender Eignung bevorzugt berücksichtigt.

Ihre schriftliche Bewerbung mit den üblichen Unterlagen (zusätzlich als pdf-Datei) richten Sie bis zum 15. Dezember 2016 an den


Präsidenten der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Herrn Universitätsprofessor Dr. Georg Krausch
55099 Mainz
Email: praesident@uni-mainz.de

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CfR: Mechanistic Explanations, Computability and Complex Systems (Dortmund, 28-30 October 2016)

Submitted by Gregor Schiemann, University of Wuppertal.

Mechanistic Explanations, Computability and Complex Systems. AIPS Conference Dortmund 2016

At: TU Dortmund
From: 28.10.2016 09:15 To: 30.10.2016 13:00

When it turned out that the “classical” DN model of explanation cannot cope with many fields of scientific research (starting with cases from physics), several other models of scientific explanation have been developed. In a recent philosophical turn to scientific practice, mechanistic explanations have drawn much attention. They explain how certain properties of a whole stem from the causal activities of its parts. This kind of explanation is in particular employed in explanatory models of the behaviour of complex systems. It is widely spread in biology and neuroscience and hence was taken up mainly in the philosophy of biology and neurobiology. In the 2016 AIPS conference, we want to broaden the scope of discussion. In recent philosophy of physics, mechanistic explanations have not yet drawn the attention, which they deserve. This is a surprising neglect, given that mechanistic explanations in other fields of research are modelled after the mechanical models of physics. Well-known examples of mechanical explanations are the kinetic theory of heat, and the constituent models of matter of atomic, nuclear, and particle physics. In the latter, however, the mechanisms on which the explanations rely on are no longer “mechanical” in a classical sense. Other kinds of mechanical explanations are typical of computer science. In all these cases, questions of computability and its limitations arise. No conference fee. Registration requests to: brigitte.falkenburg@tu-dortmund.de

Links: http://ifpp.fk14.tu-dortmund.de/cms/ifpp/de/forschung/wissenschaftlicheveranstaltung/AIPS-Conference/index.html

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