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Topics in Philosophy of Science

People

Calosi C.

Course director

Description

Topics in the Metaphysics of Science

In this seminar, we will discuss metaphysical issues as they arise in contemporary science. First, we will treat the relationship between metaphysics and science in general, and between metaphysics and physics in particular. Second, we will consider specific problems such as time and relativity, structuralism and dependence, monism and indeterminacy in the context of quantum physics, and metaphysical questions in the context of biology.

 

Schedule & Readings

1 MA 23/09 10: 30 ->12:00 2h Introduction (No Readings)

 

2 MA 30/09 9:30 -> 12:15 3h Science and Metaphysics. Reading: Ney, A. 2012. Neo-Positivistic Metaphysics, Philosophical Studies 160 (1): 53-78. 

 

3 MA 07/10 9:30 -> 12:15 3h Relativity. Lecture Notes (Instructor)

 

4 MA 14/10 9:30 -> 12:15 3h Persistence in Relativistic Spacetimes. Reading: Gilmore, C. 2006. Where in the Relativistic World Are We? Philosophical Perspectives 20 (1): 199-36.

 

5 MA 21/10 9:30 -> 12:15 3h Quantum Mechanics. Lecture Notes (Instructor)

 

6 MA 28/10 9:30 -> 12:15 3h Quantum Ontologies. Reading: Lewis, P. 2016. Quantum Ontology. Oxford, Oxford University Press: Chapter 3, Underdetermination.

 

7 MA 18/11 9:30 -> 12:15 3h Quantum Indeterminacy. Reading: Lewis, P. 2016. Quantum Ontology. Oxford, Oxford University Press: Chapter 4, Indeterminacy.

 

8 MA 25/11 9:30 -> 12:15 3h Quantum Holism. Reading: Ismael, J. and Schaffer, J. 2016.Quantum Holism. Non-Separability as Common Ground. Synthese, online first.

 

9 MA 02/12 9:30 -> 12:15 3h Quantum Monism. Reading: Calosi, C. 2018. Quantum Monism. An Assesment. Philosophical Studies 175 (12): 3217-3236.

 

10 09/12 10.30-12.00 2h Relations Between the Sciences & Metaphysical Emergence. Reading: Wilson, J. 2013. Non-Linearity and Metaphysical Emergence, in Mumford and Tugby (Eds). Metaphysics and Science: Oxford, Oxford University Press.