CfP: Inferentialism, Bayesianism, and Scientific Explanation
The Munich
Center for Mathematical Philosophy invites abstracts for the
following event:
Inferentialism, Bayesianism, and Scientific
Explanation
MCMP, LMU Munich
January 25-26, 2017
What makes a given explanation successful? Many philosophers of
science have tried to answer this question, but there is no
consensus answer. In this workshop, we will assess the prospects of
taking a novel approach to answering this question. Specifically, we
will discuss whether and how an inferentialist account of
explanation can be combined with Bayesian resources to deliver an
adequate account of scientific explanation. This involves assessing
not only whether the inferentialist can capture aspects of
explanation that are often thought to resist Bayesian treatment
(e.g., Inference to the Best Explanation and the asymmetry of
explanation), but also whether inferentialism avoids problems that
are thought to plague ontic accounts of explanation (e.g., an
untenable insensitivity to contextual and pragmatic factors). Since
it may not be entirely clear what the commitments of the
inferentialist are in the context of scientific explanation, we
likewise hope to consider what exactly it means to be an
inferentialist about explanation.
Call for extended abstracts
We invite submissions of extended abstracts for talks to be
presented at a workshop on “Inferentialism, Bayesianism and
Scientific Explanation.” (Workshop details, including a description
of themes that will be covered, can be found on the website, http://www.mcmp.philosophie.
Dates and Deadines
Submission deadline: 30 November 2016
Workshop: 25-26 January 2017