December 2014 - The Rotman Institute of Philosophy

New Video Posted: James Fleming – Dynamic Climatology: Historical Perspectives on Shape-Shifting Nouns

New Video Posted: James Fleming – Dynamic Climatology: Historical Perspectives on Shape-Shifting Nouns

Here is the first video from the Knowledge and Models in Climate Science: Philosophical, Historical & Scientific Perspectives Conference at the Rotman Institute of Philosophy, Western University, October 24-26, 2014.James Fleming (Colby College, Science, Technology and Society)Abstract: I present case studies of “shape-shifting nouns” in the history of dynamic climatology and identify some overarching trends [...]

robread2014-12-12T11:24:18-05:00December 12th, 2014|2014 Conference|

New Video: Peter Achinstein – Who Needs Proof? James Clerk Maxwell on Scientific Method

The second lecture Peter Achinstein gave in November, 2014 is now available on our YouTube channel, and below: Abstract: Isaac Newton famously claimed that hypotheses, i.e., unproved propositions, have no place in “experimental philosophy.” Maxwell disagreed and proposed three methods that can legitmately be employed when a scientist lacks proof for a theory, or even a [...]

robread2016-01-29T11:54:52-05:00December 10th, 2014|Events, Philosophy of Science|

New Video: Peter Achinstein – What is a theory of everything, and why should we want one?

New Video: Peter Achinstein – What is a theory of everything, and why should we want one?

Abstract: Scientists and philosophers who seek, or advocate seeking, a “theory of everything” (e.g., string theory, Thomas Nagel’s panpsychic theory, David Chalmers’ “construction of the world”) want to produce a grand, unifying theory that can explain everything on the basis of fundamental laws and constituents of the universe. Advocates of this idea offer very general [...]

robread2016-01-29T11:55:19-05:00December 5th, 2014|Events, Philosophy of Science|

Postdoctoral Fellows Positions – Now Accepting Applications

Postdoctoral Fellows Positions – Now Accepting Applications

Three Postdoctoral Fellowships at the Rotman Institute have now opened, and will be accepting applications until January 15, 2015. These positions provide new scholars with a unique opportunity to pursue his or her chosen areas of scholarly research in collaboration with Rotman Institute Members.The Rotman Institute of Philosophy is situated in one of Canada’s leading [...]

robread2016-01-29T11:55:56-05:00December 1st, 2014|Rotman News|