Infinite Idealizations in Science, June 8-9, 2016 at LMU Munich
The
Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy invites abstracts for
the following event:
Infinite Idealizations in Science
MCMP, LMU Munich
June 8-9, 2016
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Infinite idealizations are
assumptions that play an important role in physics, biology,
economics, and many others sciences. Putative examples include
an infinite population size in population genetics, an infinite
number of components in the theory of phase transitions and an
infinite number of persons consuming an infinite number of
(infinitely divisible) goods in large-scale economic models.
Although these idealizations are generally uncontroversial in
the scientific community, they have been at the center of recent
philosophical debates about reduction, explanation and the
status of models in science. Yet, philosophers of the particular
sciences addressing these issues have largely kept within the
confines of their own specialist literature. One of our goals
for the conference is to bring philosophers of physics, biology,
economics, etc. together in conversation about infinite
idealizations, thereby mapping what similarities and differences
such idealizations may have across these fields.
Some of the questions this
workshop aims to explore include (but are not limited to):
· Are infinite idealizations compatible with
reduction?
· Can a model invoking an infinite idealization have
explanatory power?
· What explains the success of theories that appeal
to infinite idealizations?
· Are infinite idealizations compatible with
scientific realism?
· Are infinite idealizations substantially different
from other idealizations?
· Should infinite idealizations be understood as
approximations?
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Call for Abstracts
We invite submissions from
both philosophers and scientists exploring infinite
idealizations both within and between specific scientific
theories and disciplines. Abstract submissions, consisting of
one short (max. 100 word) and one extended (500–1000 word)
abstract, will be double-blind reviewed and should be submitted
through our automated submission system by the end
of March 11, 2016.
Please prepare your
submission for blind review by removing any identifying
information from both your short and extended abstracts,
uploading the latter as a PDF file. You will be able to revise
your submission any number of times before the deadline (March
11, 2016).
The conference language is English.
Please feel free to contact
the organizers with any questions you may have.
Dates and Deadlines
- Deadline for submission: March 11, 2016.
- Notification of acceptance: March 28, 2016.
- Deadline for registration: March 30, 2016.
- Conference: June 8–9, 2016.
Organizers
- Samuel C. Fletcher (Minnesota/MCMP)
- Patricia Palacios (MCMP/LMU)