Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker-Lectures 2016

The current Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker-Lectures take place from November 21.–25.2016 and will be prestend by Professor Sandra D. Mitchell on the following topic:

“Through the Fractured Looking Glass: Scientific Perspectives of Nature“

Professor Mitchell ist an internationally renowned philosopher of science working at the university of Pittsburgh.

Abstract: “Science investigates the one universe in which we live and yet provides us with multiple explanations, predictions, and representations of the natural phenomena that constitute that universe. Competing accounts make up some of this pluralism. But why does science use diverse, compatible models of the very same phenomenon, and how are such models related to each other? These lectures will offer a perspectival answer. Scientific models provide different lenses through which to “see” natural systems. Perspectivism, and its correlate, partiality of representation make sense of model pluralism. Especially for complex phenomena, different perspectives cannot and should not be unified into a single representation that purports to perfectly mirror nature. By using multiple models, science improves our understanding, and better enables us to achieve our goals. This lecture series explores how the contingent and pragmatic features of scientific knowledge warrant an integrative, pluralist epistemology. The philosophical considerations will be illustrated with examples from scientific practice. These include explanations of the open-ended evolution of adapted systems and predictions of the structure of functional proteins.“

The opening lecture on

“Through the Fractured Looking Glass: Scientific Perspectives of Nature“

is given

Monday, November 21, 2016,
6 - 8 pm
in Lecture Hall B of the University's Main Building
Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1

The other lectures are given on the following dates:

• Tuesday, November 22, 2016, 6 - 8 pm at the University's Main Building, ESA 1, Lecture Hall B: "Model-Model Relationships: Integrative Pluralism".
• Wednesday, November 23, 2016, 6 - 8 pm at the University's Main Building, ESA 1, Lecture Hall B: "Laws and Counterfactuals: Constitutive, Contingent and Conceptual Components".
• Thursday, November 24, 2016, 6 - 8 pm at the University's Main Building, ESA 1, Lecture Hall M: "Models of Data: Production and Evidence".
• Friday, November 25, 2016, 6 - 8 pm at the University's Main Building, ESA 1, Lecture Hall M: "Evolved, Adaptive Systems: A Case for Contingent Metaphysics".

In case you have any questions or concerns contact Ulrich Gähde (Department of Philosophy) at ulrich.gaehde"AT"uni-hamburg.de.

Here you can find the Poster of the event.