The Present Situation in the Philosophy of Science

Research Networking Programme
THE PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE IN A EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE (PSE)
http://www.pse-esf.org/

Opening Conference: The Present Situation in the Philosophy of Science

December 18–20, 2008
December 18: 9.00 – 13.00 a.m. and 3.00 – 6.30 p.m.
December 19: 9.30 – 13.00 a.m. and 3.00 – 6.30 p.m.
December 20: 9.30 – 13.15 a.m.
Universitätscampus, Universität Wien
Hof 1, Kapelle, Spitalgasse 2–4, 1090 Wien
www.univie.ac.at/ivc/pse1.html

Thursday, December 18, 2008
Opening addresses
9:00–9:30 Jacques Dubucs (University of Paris I, Member of the SCH of the ESF) and
Friedrich Stadler (University of Vienna)

I. SESSION: Team E: FOUNDATIONAL AND METHODOLOGICAL DEBATES
Chair: Maria Carla Galavotti (University of Bologna)

9:30–10:00 Thomas Uebel (University of Manchester): Aspects of Current History of Analytical Philosophy of Science
10:00–10:15 Thomas Mormann (San Sebastian University): Commentary
10:15–10:30 Discussion

10:30–11:00 Coffee Break

11:00–11:30 Cristina Chimisso (Open University, UK): Aspects of Current History of Philosophy of Science in the French Tradition
11:30–11:45 Anastasios Brenner (University Paul Valéry – Montpellier III)
Commentary
11:45–12:00 Discussion

12:00–12:30 Michael Heidelberger (University of Tübingen): Aspects of Current History of 19th Century Philosophy of Science
12:30–12:45 Massimo Ferrari (University of Turin): Commentary
12:45–13:00 Discussion

II. SESSION: Team A: FORMAL METHODS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
Chair: Theo Kuipers (University of Groningen)

15:00–15:30 Stephan Hartmann (University of Tilburg): Formal Methods in General Philosophy of Science: The State of the Art
15:30–15:45 Vincent Hendricks (Roskilde University): Commentary
15:45–16:00 Discussion

16:00–16:30 Coffee Break

16:30–17:00 Hannes Leitgeb (University of Bristol): Formal Methods in the Philosophy of Natural and Formal Sciences
17:00–17:15 Thomas Müller (Utrecht University): Commentary
17:15–17:30 Discussion

17:30–18:00 Franz Dietrich (University of Maastricht): Formal Methods in the Philosophy of Social Sciences
18:00–18:15 Gabriella Pigozzi (University of Luxembourg): Commentary
18:15–18:30 Discussion

Friday, December 19, 2008

III. SESSION: Team B: APPROACHES TO THE FOUNDATIONS OF SCIENCE: THE PLACE OF THE LIFE SCIENCES
Chair: Gereon Wolters (University of Konstanz)

9:30–10:00 Marcel Weber (University of Basel): Life in a Physical World
10:00–10:15 Claude Debru (École Normale Supérieure, Paris): Commentary
10:15–10:30 Discussion

10:30–11:00 Coffee Break

11:00–11:30 Thomas Reydon (University of Hannover): How Special are the Life Sciences? A View from the Natural Kinds Debate
11:30–11:45 Miles MacLeod (University of Vienna): Commentary
11:45–12:00 Discussion

12:00–12:30 Mehmet Elgin (University of Mugla): Reducing Function to Structure: An Example from Biochemistry
12:30–12:45 Raffaella Campaner (University of Bologna): Commentary
12:45–13:00 Discussion

IV. SESSION:
Team C: THE PRESENT SITUATION OF THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE CULTURAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES: THE "NATURALIST TURN", THE "SOCIAL TURN", AND THE DISCUSSION ON SCIENTIFIC REALISM
Chair: Adrian Miroiu (National School of Political Studies and Public Administration, Bucharest)

15:00–15:30 Wenceslao Gonzalez (University of La Coruña): Trends and Problems in the Philosophy of Social and Cultural Sciences: A European Perspective
15:30–15:45 Arto Siitonen (University of Helsinki): Commentary
15:45–16:00 Discussion

16:00–16:30 Coffee Break

16:30–17:00 Matti Sintonen (University of Helsinki): Realism in Social Science: Ontological, Causal, Structural, or What?
17:00–17:15 Bengt Hansson (University of Lund): Commentary
17:15–17:30 Discussion

17:30–18:00 Daniel Andler (Université Paris-Sorbonne, IUF, IHPST-DEC-ENS): Is Naturalism the Unsurpassable Philosophy for the Sciences of Man in the 21st Century?
18:00–18:15 Antonio Zilhao (University of Lisbon): Commentary
18:15–18:30 Discussion

Saturday, December 20, 2008

V. SESSION: Team D: PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES
Chair: Miklós Rédei (London School of Economics)

9:30–10:00 Dennis Dieks (Utrecht University): The Philosophy of Physics in Perspective
10:00–10:15 Mauro Dorato (University of Roma 3): Commentary
10:15–10:30 Discussion

10:30–11:00 Coffee Break

11:00–11:30 Roman Frigg (London School of Economics): Chance in Deterministic Systems
11:30–11:45 László E. Szabó (Eötvös University, Budapest): Commentary
11:45–12:00 Discussion

12:00–12:30 Holger Lyre (University of Augsburg): Structural Realism and the Metaphysics of Physics
12:30–12:45 Fred Muller (Erasmus University, Rotterdam): Commentary
12:45–13:00 Discussion

13:00–13:15 Maria Carla Galavotti (University of Bologna): Closing remarks