Submitted by Catherine Herfeld (University of Zurich).

WORKSHOP: THE EPISTEMIC ROLE OF NARRATIVES IN SCIENCE

LOCATION: Department of Philosophy, University of Zurich, Switzerland

DATE: September 1 – 2, 2022

ORGANIZERS: Alexandra Quack, Catherine Herfeld (University of Zurich)

Narratives play an important epistemic role in science. Across a wide range of disciplines, scientists employ narratives for different purposes in their research. In recent years, philosophers and historians of science have increasingly begun to inquire into such uses of narratives. Focusing on the epistemic functions of narratives in science, they have shown that narratives perform diverse and often crucial tasks in the scientific research process. For example, it has been argued that narratives productively interact with mathematical models in a variety of different disciplines, thereby raising important questions about the explanatory contribution of narratives in modelling (e.g., Morgan and Wise 2017). While there is no doubt about the originality and importance of those contributions, the philosophical literature on narratives in science is still at an early stage. Specifying further how narratives are used and how they function in science therefore remains an important task. For this workshop, we take those contributions as our departure point to discuss, further develop, and conceptually expand existing accounts and/or to apply them to cases from a variety of different disciplines. In doing so, the primary goal of this workshop is to bring together researchers interested in the epistemic role of narratives to further advance the philosophical research agenda on the use and functions of narratives in science.

Possible questions that we will discuss at the workshop include:
* When do scientists use narratives?
* What do scientists need narratives for, i.e., what problems do narratives solve for them?
* How could we categorize the functions of narratives in science?
* In what way do various scientific methods rely on narratives?
* To what extent do narratives contribute to explanation and/or scientific understanding?
* What is it about narratives that allows them to fulfill the epistemic functions they are proposed to fulfill?

We welcome contributions from historians and philosophers of the natural, the social, and the life sciences. Some of the research presented will conceptually analyze the conditions for using narratives in science. Other research will focus on specific historical episodes or philosophical issues that give rise to narratives in the various fields. The different contributions can also rely on a broad set of methods, spanning from systematic approaches, (historical) case-study analysis, and empirical approaches, etc. In this way, the workshop will hopefully make significant headway towards an in-depth analysis of the epistemic role of narratives within and across the sciences.

(Preliminary) list of invited speakers: John Beatty, Sharon Crasnow, Claudia Cristalli, Adrian Currie, Till Grüne-Yanoff, Paula Olmos, Alirio Rosales

There are several slots for contributed submissions. Please submit an abstract of max. 500 words (including a title) to narrative2022@outlook.com until July 29th 2022. We will inform you shortly thereafter if your abstract has been accepted.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the organizers:
Alexandra Quack (alexandra.quack@uzh.ch)
Catherine Herfeld (catherine.herfeld@uzh.ch)

Submitted by Catherine Herfeld (University of Zurich).

CfR: Master Class with Philip Kitcher (Columbia University), The Progress of Inquiry, June 21-22, 2022

Applications are invited for the Master Class entitled ‘The Progress of Inquiry‘. We are pleased to have Professor Philip Kitcher (Columbia University) as the lecturer. The Master Class will take place on June 21 and 22, 2022 at the Philosophy Department of the University of Zurich, Switzerland.

Please find a short synopsis, a reading list, and additional organizational information here: https://www.philosophie.uzh.ch/de/studies/doctorate/master_classes.html

This Master Class is an opportunity for Master and PhD students in philosophy and history of science/special sciences to work intensely over two days with a world-leading philosopher in their field. An informal setting, small group size, and a workshop format combine to create an atmosphere that fosters intellectual stimulation, a high level of discussion, and collaborative development of ideas.

The number of participating students is limited. If you would like to be considered for a place, please send an expression of interest to Catherine Herfeld (herfeld@soziologie.uzh.ch), the latest by June 6, 2022.

Submitted by Leonie Wiemeyer (University of Hannover).

CFR: International Conference on Engaging Ethics and Epistemology in Science (EES 2022), 29-30 September 2022, Hannover

Anmeldefrist: 01.07.2022

Registration for our International Conference on Engaging Ethics and Epistemology in Science (EES 2022), which will take place on 29-30 September 2022 at Leibnizhaus Hannover, Germany, is now open. Please see the EES 2022 website for the registration link and more information: https://grk2073.org/eesconference2022/. Participation is free; the conference language is English.
The conference schedule is available online at https://grk2073.org/eesconference2022/schedule/.
If you have any questions, please contact our team at eesconference@philos.uni-hannover.de.

Submitted by Deniz Sarikaya (Vrieje Universiteit Brussels).

Special Issue of Axiomathes
Mathematical neutrality in science, technology and society (deadline: December 1, 2022)

Guest Editors: José Antonio Pérez-Escobar (École Normale Supérieure Paris; jose.antonio.perez.escobar@ens.psl.eu) and Deniz Sarikaya (Vrije Universiteit Brussel; deniz.sarikaya@vub.be)

The interplay between scientific knowledge and society is a central theme in the philosophy of science. Engineering and science crucially rely on mathematical tools, and mathematics might influence society via the sciences or even directly.

Mathematics is usually regarded as a discipline which admits no grey areas in most situations: answers are either correct or incorrect; there is a universal, objective, correct answer. On the other hand, ethical, moral and political questions are usually not “correct” or “incorrect”, they are complicated and full of grey areas. This makes it extremely tempting to see the sciences and mathematics as a good way to settle disputes concerning issues like justice or equity. If the ethical/moral/political question can be reduced to a mathematical question, may the grey areas disappear? Can we make use of modern technologies like AI, Big Data and Machine learning to this end? How can mathematics promote consensus in controversial topics?

Similarly, it is usually considered that mathematics is the universal language of the world, one that describes it “as it is”. According to this view, mathematics is neutral in the production of scientific knowledge: the scientist discovers the mathematical rules of nature (like laws and mathematical models) and applies mathematical methods to which nature owes allegiance (like statistics and algorithms).

Recent scholarship warns about the increasing use of mathematical techniques in order to prescribe policies and produce knowledge under a veil of neutrality, and argues that we should carefully evaluate the consequences of these techniques in science and society.

This Topical Collection aims at contributing to this literature. Topics include but are not limited to:
– The moral responsibility of pure and applied mathematicians
– Value-ladenness of mathematics
– Algorithmic governance
– The mathematization of science: how (not) to use mathematics, and ethical/epistemic consequences
– Statistics in science and society: how (not) to use statistics, and ethical/epistemic consequences
– Ethical concerns about mathematics education

For further information, or if you are unsure whether your paper idea fits the theme, please contact ideally both of us: 
jose.antonio.perez.escobar@ens.psl.eu; deniz.sarikaya@vub.be.
The deadline for submissions is December 1, 2022.

Papers should be submitted via Axiomathes’ editorial manager at:
https://www.editorialmanager.com/axio/default1.aspx.
When the system asks you to “Choose Article Type”, please scroll down in the pull-down menu to choose this topical collection. (Tag S.I. Mathematical
neutrality in science, technology and society)

When preparing your paper, please read the journal’s ‘Instructions for 
authors’ at:
https://www.springer.com/journal/10516/submission-guidelines

Research position 50% (PhD or Postdoc) for 2 years vacant at the Department of Philosophy, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf.  

As part of the DFG project Parameterised frames and conceptual spaces (SCHU 1566/17-1), a half-time postdoc research position is vacant.

Research focus: Naturalness of predicates, explicated within the theory of conceptual spaces, combined with the frame theory of concepts.

The researcher is free in his or her selection of specific topics, as long as they stay within the general theme of the project.

For a full project description see: www.philosophie.hhu.de/schurz
(go to research project/project description). Research focus is work package 3 of this description.

The position is for 2 years, extendible by some months (salary level E13). Intended start is October 1st 2022 (may be delayed by some months). Interested persons send an e-mail together with their CV until May 15th, 2022, to Professor Gerhard Schurz (schurz@hhu.de). 

Submitted by Alice Murphy (MCMP, LMU Munich).

The Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP) at Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich is organising the eight

Summer School on Mathematical Philosophy for Female Students 2022

August 1-5, 2022

The summer school, running yearly since 2014, is open to all women students who want to specialise in mathematical philosophy. The school’s aim is to encourage students to engage with mathematical and scientific approaches to philosophical problems. This is with the view that such events both recognise and help address the gender imbalance in formal philosophy. It also offers the opportunity for study in an informal and interdisciplinary setting, for lively debate, and for the development of a network of students and professors interested in the application of formal methods to philosophy.

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the success of last year’s school, the 2022 summer school will take place entirely online.

More information will be available soon and registration will open in May.
https://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/news/summer-school-2022/index.html

Submitted by Christian J. Feldbacher-Escamilla (University of Cologne).

Registration for the Fourth International Conference of the German Society for Philosophy of Science (GWP.2022) is open now.

If you wish to attend the conference, please register via:
https://gwp2022.wissphil.de/gwp2022-registration

Early bird registration ends on June 1, 2022.

The conference will take place on August 15-17, 2022, at the TU Berlin. Our plenary speakers are:

* Anjan Chakravartty (Miami)
* Mazviita Chirimuuta (Edinburgh)
* Brigitte Falkenburg (Dortmund/Berlin)
* Branden Fitelson (Northeastern/Boston)
* Hans Rott (Regensburg)
* Jutta Schickore (IU Bloomington)

The conference is planned as an in-person event. Participation in the GWP.2022 requires compliance with the Corona rules in force.

Conference Website: https://gwp2022.wissphil.de/

Local organization: Axel Gelfert
GWP organization: Uljana Feest, Christian J. Feldbacher-Escamilla, Alexander Gebharter, Vera Hoffmann-Kolss, Thomas Reydon, Gerhard Schurz

Submitted by Deniz Sarikaya (Vrije Universiteit Brussel).

Masterclass in the Philosophy of Mathematical Practice 2022
with Valeria Giardino (CNRS, Institut Jean Nicod, Paris)
June, 1–3
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Brussels, Belgium
https://sites.google.com/view/mc-pmp-brussels-2022/

The Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS) of the Vrije  
Universiteit Brussel (VUB) will host its Third Masterclass in the  
Philosophy of Mathematical Practice on June, 1–3 with Valeria Giardino  
(CNRS, Institut Jean Nicod, Paris).

We intend the Masterclass to be a fully interactive event, with the  
twofold objective to understand in depth the materials presented in  
the lectures, and to provide early career researchers (PhD students  
and Postdocs) with an opportunity to discuss their ongoing work in a  
helpful and constructive environment. The lectures by Valeria Giardino  
will take place in the mornings, and will be followed by afternoon  
sessions with presentations by early career researchers in the  
Philosophy of Mathematical Practice. The exact titles of the lectures  
will be communicated at a later stage.

Call for Abstracts
We invite early career researchers who would be interested to present  
their work to send us an abstract of at most 250 words by April, 1st.  
Please submit your abstract, including your affiliation information,  
via the following form: https://forms.gle/ZsyQBpGftXoDxvcy5 or by  
sending it to the following email address: joachim.frans@vub.be . The  
talks will be of a duration of around 20 minutes (not including  
discussion). Notification of acceptance will be sent out by mid April.  
Notice that submitting an abstract is not mandatory for attending the  
Masterclass.

Attendance Fees and Registration
We ask people to register to the Masterclass by May, 1st. There will  
be no attendance fees for the event, and attendance of the Masterclass  
is open to everyone interested. If you are planning to attend the  
Masterclass, please register via the following form:  
https://forms.gle/ZsyQBpGftXoDxvcy5 or by sending an email to:  
joachim.frans@vub.be if you do not want to use a Google form.

Location
The Masterclass will take place at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel  
(VUB) on the Etterbeek campus, which is situated in Brussels, Belgium.  
In case pandemic regulations require a change of plans, we will inform  
all attendees.

Titles and  abstracts by the invited lecturer Valeria Giardino

Mathematical cognition: core knowledge systems and (more importantly) beyond
The literature in cognitive science shows that humans and other  
animals are born with cognitive systems that are ready to work, for  
example to compare numerosities or shapes, and whose powers improve by  
learning new cognitive strategies. In this first talk, I will focus  
precisely on the practices that have been developed to this aim, which  
involve in many cases cognitive tools having a spatial nature. I will  
discuss to which point these objects are important to establish  
mathematics as we know it.

Cognitive tools for mathematics: anchors or props (or both)?
Edwin Hutchins defined “material anchors” as associating a conceptual  
structure with a material structure in order to stabilize conceptual  
representations. However, in some cases these material objects can be  
used as props to imagine “things” about what they represent. In this  
second talk, I will discuss the functioning of cognitive tools in the  
context of mathematics and the possible tension between these two roles.

The practice of mathematics: “trafficking in heterogeneity”
As Emily Grosholz summed up some years ago in the context of logical  
reasoning, “it is hard for a logician to admit that he is trafficking  
in heterogeneity”. However, this seems to be easily the case for a  
mathematician. In this third talk, I will introduce and discuss the  
more recent literature showing this “traffic” in multi-dimensional  
reasoning in mathematics, and present some new work of mine on the  
same topic.

Organizers
The Masterclass is organized by Joachim Frans (CLPS, VUB), Yacin  
Hamami (Philosophy Department, ULiège), Colin Rittberg (Department of  
Philosophy, VU Amsterdam & CLPS, VUB), Deniz Sarikaya (CLPS, VUB), and  
Fenner Tanswell (CLPS, VUB).

Contact Information
For any questions, please contact the organizers by sending an email to:
joachim.frans@vub.be .

For up to date information see also the webpage:
https://sites.google.com/view/mc-pmp-brussels-2022/

Submitted by Fabian Hundertmark (Bielefeld University).

Workshop
Dispositions in the Life-Sciences: Contemporary and Historical Perspectives
Trier University, V 302 (Senatssaal)
June 2-3, 2022

The metaphysics of dispositional properties is a topic relevant to the philosophy of the (life) sciences, the history of philosophy, and contemporary metaphysics.
Dispositional concepts are ubiquitous in the life sciences. Crucial technical notions from various disciplines, such as stemness, pluripotency, boldness, arachnophobia, evolvability, plasticity, or fitness, exhibit dispositional features that require philosophical attention. While most philosophical work on dispositions focuses on everyday examples, the life sciences offer exciting and novel insights on the topic and opportunities for contrasting philosophical theories against particular scientific practices.

On the other hand, the philosophical debate on dispositions has also proved a valuable tool for interpreting historical positions in philosophy. For example, there is a branch of Kant scholarship that understands his account of forces and powers in terms of a form of dispositionalism. So far, this has been proposed for his philosophy of physics. But it seems particularly appropriate for his philosophy of biology in the Critique of the Power of Judgment, which is particularly concerned with the dichotomy between mechanistic and teleological explanations of biological systems. Dispositionalist readings have been proposed for Aristotle’s metaphysics, too. Hence, it is also a worthwhile project to ask for dispositionalist readings of his views on living beings.

This workshop aims at discussing views on dispositions in the life sciences from a contemporary and a historical perspective. It focuses on contemporary views in the philosophy of science that take scientific practice as their fundament and wants to cross a bridge to historical accounts that model biological systems by dispositional properties.

The workshop takes place as part of the research group “Inductive Metaphysics” (https://indmet.weebly.com), funded by DFG (German Research Foundation).

Speakers
Rani Lill Anjum (Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Aas)
Christopher J. Austin (Durham University)
Kristina Engelhard (University of Trier)
Andrea Gambarotto (Université catholique de Louvain)
Fabian Hundertmark (Bielefeld University)
Marie I. Kaiser (Bielefeld University)
Alan Love (University of Minnesota)
Laura Nuño de la Rosa (University of Madrid)
James Messina (Madison)
María Ferreira Ruiz (Bielefeld University)
Gil Santos (University of Lisbon)
Javier Suárez (Jagiellonian University & Bielefeld University)
Davide Vecchi (University of Lisbon)

Organizers: Kristina Engelhard (Trier), Lorenzo Spagnesi (Trier), Fabian Hundertmark (Bielefeld), Marie I. Kaiser (Bielefeld), María Ferreira Ruiz (Bielefeld), Javier Suárez Díaz (Bielefeld).

In case you want to participate, you can register by sending an email to Lorenzo Spagnesi (spagnesi@uni-trier.de).

Submitted by Stephan Hartmann (MCMP, LMU Munich).

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1-Year Postdoctoral Position (full time) at the MCMP (LMU Munich)

MCMP, LMU Munich

https://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/news/postdoc_dfguniverse_2022/index.html
*********************************************

The Chair of Philosophy of Science (Prof. Dr. Stephan Hartmann) and the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP) in the Faculty of Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and Study of Religion is seeking applications for a 1-year postdoctoral position (full time) starting on October 1, 2022 (or earlier).

Application deadline: March 10 2022

For more information and details see: https://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/news/postdoc_dfguniverse_2022/index.html