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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20181001T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20181001T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20180912T190137Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181017T152049Z
UID:20626-1538418600-1538425800@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Panel Discussion: Canada Up in Smoke? Debating the Impact of Cannabis Legalization
DESCRIPTION:EVENT DESCRIPTION\n\nThe Society of Neuroscience Graduate Students at Western University is hosting an upcoming panel discussion on the legalization of cannabis\, due to take effect in October. The event will include experts from a range of fields\, exploring the medical\, legal\, and ethical considerations of the new policy. The Rotman Institute of Philosophy and the Brain and Mind Institute are both co-sponsors of the event\, and Rotman faculty member\, Anthony Skelton\, will act as the panel moderator. \nThis event is free and open to the public\, but for planning purposes advance registration is requested. \n  \nREGISTER TO ATTEND \n  \nPANELISTS\n\nTerence Kernaghan\, MPP – London North Centre\, New Democratic Party of Ontario \nDr. Jibran Khokhar\, PhD – Assistant Professor\, University of Guelph\, Department of Biomedical Sciences \nDr. Ruth Ross\, PhD – Professor\, University of Toronto\, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology \nDr. Anthony Skelton\, PhD  (Panel Moderator) – Associate Professor\, Western University\, Department of Philosophy \nDr. Jonas Vanderzwan\, MD –  Medical Director\, WeedMD \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n  \n \n \nEvent image credit: Erik F. Brandsborg – Røykring / Smoke ring (license)
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/panel-discussion-canada-up-in-smoke-debating-the-impact-of-cannabis-legalization/
LOCATION:Room 1200\, Spencer Engineering Building\, Spencer Engineering Building\, Western University\, London\, Ontario\, N6A 5B9\, Canada
CATEGORIES:panel discussions,Public Events,Science and Values
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180623
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180625
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20180528T154334Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181017T162121Z
UID:20199-1529712000-1529884799@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:2018 Philosophy of Logic Math and Physics Graduate Student Conference
DESCRIPTION:Join us on June 23-24\, 2018 for the eighteenth annual Philosophy of Logic\, Math and Physics (LMP) graduate student conference in philosophy at Western University in London\, Ontario\, Canada. The LMP Graduate Student Conference will bring together philosophers of logic\, mathematics\, and physics for two days of presentations and discussions with some of the leaders in these fields. We are pleased to announce our keynote speaker this year is David Wallace from the University of Southern California. \nIf you wish to attend the LMP conference\, please contact the conference organizers at uwolmp@gmail.com \nTo view the conference program\, accommodation details and information on past conferences\, please visit the LMP website. \nWestern University’s Philosophy Department also hosts an annual Philosophy of Physics Conference prior to\, or following the Graduate Student LMP Conference. This year’s conference will be taking place June 21-22\, and will focus on thermodynamics as a resource theory. More information on this year’s conference can be found here. \n\nThis conference is supported by The Rotman Institute of Philosophy\, The Department of Philosophy\, The Social Science and Humanities Research Council\, and The Canadian Journal of Philosophy. \nOrganizers \nAdam Koberinski (chair)\, Dimitris Athanasiou\, Thomas De Saegher\, Marie Gueguen\, Philippos Papagiannopoulos\, Yousuf Hasan\, Peter Verveniotis\, Jamie Shaw\, Valerie Lynn Therrien\, Martin Zelko \n               
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/2018-philosophy-of-logic-math-and-physics-graduate-student-conference/
LOCATION:Room 1145 – Stevenson Hall\, Stevenson Hall\, Room 1145\, London\, Ontario\, N6G 2V4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Conference,Graduate Student Events,Philosophy of Physics
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180620
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180623
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20180528T173632Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200902T192524Z
UID:20206-1529452800-1529711999@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Thermodynamics as a Resource Theory: 2018 Annual Philosophy of Physics Conference
DESCRIPTION:EVENT DESCRIPTION\n\nThe Revolution will be thermalized.\n\nRecently\, there has been a shift in the way that many physicists are approaching the science of thermodynamics. Instead of regarding its laws as purely physical laws\, researchers are increasingly treating the theory as a theory about how agents\, such as ourselves\, can use information about a physical system as a resource for extracting useful work from the system. Seen this way\, investigations into the thermodynamics of quantum systems have a deep connection with work in Quantum Information Theory. \nThis interdisciplinary workshop that brings together philosophers and physicists to explore the philosophical and foundational implications of the resource-theoretic turn in thermodynamics. View speaker abstracts on the conference program. \nCONFIRMED SPEAKERS\n\nTony Bartolotta California Institute of Technology\, Walter Burke Institute for Theoretical Physics \nJoshua Luczak Lebniz Universität Hannover\, Institute of Philosophy \nOwen Maroney University of Oxford\, Faculty of Philosophy \nMarkus Müller Austrian Academy of Sciences\, Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information Vienna \nWayne C. Myrvold The University of Western Ontario\, Philosophy \nNelly Ng Freie Universität Berlin\, Department of Physics \nCarina Prunkl University of Oxford\, Balliol College\, Philosophy\n \nRobert Spekkens Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics\, Quantum Foundations \nJos Uffink University of Minnesota\, Philosophy \nDavid Wallace University of Southern California\, Philosophy \n  \nEVENT VIDEO\n\n \n\nThis workshop is supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada\, The Rotman Institute of Philosophy\, The Department of Philosophy of the University of Western Ontario\, the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Western Ontario\, and by Graham and Gale Wright\, who generously sponsor the Graham and Gale Wright Distinguished Professor Award. \n 
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/thermodynamics-as-a-resource-theory-2018-annual-philosophy-of-physics-conference/
LOCATION:Room 114 – North Campus Building\, 2004 Perth Drive\, London\, Ontario\, N6G\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Conference,Other Conferences,Philosophy of Physics
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180614
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180617
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20180528T155128Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181017T173315Z
UID:20202-1528934400-1529193599@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:2018 PhilMiLCog Graduate Student Conference
DESCRIPTION:PhilMiLCog is a three-day graduate conference with a broad and interdisciplinary scope.  The conference\, now in its 16th year\, is recognized as one of the top philosophy graduate conferences in North America\, synthesizing research from the Philosophy of Mind\, Language\, and Cognitive Science\, including psychology\, linguistics\, evolution\, and computer science. PhilMiLCog provides an opportunity for graduate students with common interests from various departments in North America and Europe to come together and participate in lively scholarly research with leading experts in their field. \nPast Speakers\n2017: Muhammad Ali Khalidi & Gillian Barker\n2016: Mazviita Chirimuuta & Tim Bayne\n2015: Kristin Andrews & Genoveva Marti\n2014: Berit Brogaard & Angela Mendelovici\n2013: Edouard Machery & Jacqueline Sullivan\n2012: Kathleen Akins & Brie Gertler\n2011: William Lycan & Susan Schneider\n2010: Fred Adams & Richard Samuels\n2009: Jesse Prinz & John Nicholas\n2008: Reinaldo Elugardo & Peter Ludlow\n2007: Dorit Bar-On & Keith Simmons\n2006: Michael Devitt & Ned Block\n2005: Peter Carruthers & Robert Stainton\n2004: Ernest Lepore & Chris Viger\n2003: David Rosenthal \n\nThis year’s conference is sponsored by the Brain and Mind Institute\, the Western’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities\, including The Centre for the Study of Theory and Criticism\, The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures\, and The Department of Philosophy\, The Rotman Institute of Philosophy\, and The Society of Graduate Students.
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/2018-philmilcog-graduate-student-conference/
LOCATION:Room 2166 – Stevenson Hall\, London\, Ontario\, N6G 2V4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Conference,Graduate Student Events,Philosophy of Mind & Neuroscience
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20180323T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20180323T170000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20180220T165024Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241009T185150Z
UID:19850-1521819000-1521824400@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Laura Franklin-Hall: The Animal Sexes as Queer Kinds
DESCRIPTION:ABSTRACT\n\nThough biologists identify organisms as ‘male’ and ‘female’ across a broad range of animal species—in the pipefish\, orb spider\, quokka\, and king quail—the particular traits enjoyed by males and females can vary tremendously. This diversity has led some to conclude that the trans-animal sexes—males\, of whatever animal species\, and females likewise—have “little or no explanatory power”(Dupré 1986: 447) and\, as such\, are not (in any substantive sense) natural kinds. This essay will explore considerations for and against this conclusion\, ultimately arguing that the trans-animal sexes are instances of type-level historical kinds\, groupings that\, rather uniquely\, are able to serve important explanatory ends even while their members differ in both their current properties and their particular histories. \nSPEAKER PROFILE\n\nI am an associate professor of philosophy at New York University. I received my PhD in Philosophy (Columbia 2008) and BS in Biological Sciences (Stanford 2000). I am interested in problems in the philosophy of biology\, the general philosophy of science\, and metaphysics. \nMy work has focused on three families of questions: \n1) why we ‘carve up’ or classify the world into the kinds and individuals that we do\, and whether it is possible to maintain that some carvings are objectively correct\, and others not; if so\, on what basis? \n2) the nature of scientific explanation and understanding\, and particularly how explanations in biology are similar to or different from those in circulation in other sciences; \n3) how it is that\, given that our universe is ultimately a physical one\, we are able to get such an effective grip on its workings–for instance\, formulating predictively successful theories about it–even when we are describing and conceptualizing it in non-physical terms\, in doing so omitting many details that may appear crucial from a physical point-of-view. \nRead more about Laura Franklin-Hall. \nEVENT POSTER\n\nDownload a copy of the event poster. \nPhoto credit: Golden Orb Spider by Jean and Fred (License)
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/laura-franklin-hall-animal-sexes-queer-kinds/
LOCATION:Room 4190 – Western Interdisciplinary Research Building\, Western Interdisciplinary Research Building\, Room 4190\, London\, Ontario\, N6A 3K7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Philosophy of Biology
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20180315T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20180315T183000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20180119T163050Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241009T185028Z
UID:19692-1521133200-1521138600@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Julian Savulescu: The Science and Ethics of Human Enhancement
DESCRIPTION:ABSTRACT\n\nScandal after scandal has revealed that sport has been experimenting with human enhancement on a massive scale. These are among the most high-profile cases. But in fact human enhancement technologies influence all aspects of life. From students and professionals taking modafinil to enhance cognition\, focus and drive\, to evidence that SSRIs (anti-depressants) affect moral decision making\, it is increasingly clear that human enhancement is not just possible: it is happening. Meanwhile\, due to prenatal genetic testing\, the number of children born with Downs Syndrome has radically dropped. Whole genome analysis will radically change genetic selection at the embryonic and fetal stages. Gene editing promises even greater ability to remove genetic disorders and alter not just the future child\, but the genetic destiny of generations to come. Our physical\, cognitive\, moral\, and emotional lives\, and those of future generations can all be influenced through these technologies. The age of designer babies has arrived. \nWhat we can do is increasingly powerful. What we should do remains contested. Julian Savulescu will argue that human enhancement is a valid goal of human endeavour. Each type of human enhancement has its own ethical challenges. But to be human is to be better. \nThis event was a follow-up to the panel discussion\, Editing the Human Genome: The Ethics of Moulding our Future . \nSPEAKER PROFILE\n\nProfessor Julian Savulescu is the director of The Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics at the University of Oxford\, and the Uehiro Chair in Practical Ethics. His areas of research include: the ethics of genetics\, especially predictive genetic testing\, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis\, prenatal testing\, behavioural genetics\, genetic enhancement\, gene therapy. Research ethics\, especially ethics of embryo research\, including embryonic stem cell research. New forms of reproduction\, including cloning and assisted reproduction. Medical ethics\, including end of life decision-making\, resource allocation\, consent\, confidentiality\, decision-making involving incompetent people\, and other areas. Sports ethics. The analytic philosophical basis of practical ethics. Julian is a founder member of the Hinxton Group. \nRead more about Julian Savulescu. \n  \nEVENT VIDEO\n\n \n  \nPhoto credit: dawarwickphotography – license
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/julian-savulescu-ethics-human-enhancement/
LOCATION:Room 106 – Physics and Astronomy Building\, 1151 Richmond Street\, London\, Ontario\, N6A 3K7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Ethics,Public Events,Public Lectures,Science and Values
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20180314T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20180314T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20171127T191752Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241009T185111Z
UID:19542-1521054000-1521059400@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Panel Discussion - Editing the Human Genome: The Ethics of Moulding our Future
DESCRIPTION:ABSTRACT\n\nThe groundbreaking discovery of the gene-editing tool known as CRISPR allows scientists to precisely\, efficiently\, and cheaply modify the human genome. This may provide us with the power to cure disease and to unlock the secrets of early human development. It might\, in the future\, allow us to modify humans in directions that we now only dream of\, to make us smarter\, stronger and better than healthy—giving us the power to control the direction of evolution. But who will benefit from this new power? Who will be left behind? How the human genome is modified affects all of humanity\, present and future generations. How ought we to regulate this power? Who ought to regulate it? These and other questions will be the focus of a panel discussion with bioethicists Françoise Baylis\, Julian Savulescu\, and biochemist David Edgell. \nThis event was followed by a public lecture on human bioenhancement. See Julian Savulescu: The Science and Ethics of Human Enhancement for full event details. \nPANELISTS\n\n \n\nFrançoise Baylis is a philosopher whose innovative work in bioethics\, at the intersection of policy and practice\, has stretched the very boundaries of the field. Baylis holds the Canada Research Chair in Bioethics and Philosophy. Her extensive publication record spans many topics\, including research involving children\, the role of bioethics consultants\, women’s health\, human embryo research\, and novel genetic technologies. Her work challenges readers to think broadly and deeply about the direction of health\, science and biotechnology.\nDavid Edgell\, is the Acting Chair in the Department of Biochemistry at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry\, Western University. Edgell maintains an active research program in the areas of genome engineering and synthetic biology. Specifically\, his laboratory studies mobile genetic elements and applied areas such as designing artificial nucleases for genome engineering. His research is supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research\, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada\, and Ontario Genomics.\nJulian Savulescu is the director of The Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics at the University of Oxford\, and the Uehiro Chair in Practical Ethics. His areas of research include: the ethics of genetics\, especially predictive genetic testing\, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis\, prenatal testing\, behavioural genetics\, genetic enhancement\, gene therapy. Research ethics\, especially ethics of embryo research\, including embryonic stem cell research. New forms of reproduction\, including cloning and assisted reproduction. Medical ethics\, including end of life decision-making\, resource allocation\, consent\, confidentiality\, decision-making involving incompetent people\, and other areas. Sports ethics. The analytic philosophical basis of practical ethics. Julian is a founder member of the Hinxton Group.\nPanel Moderator – Anthony Skelton is an associate professor in the Department of Philosophy at Western University\, and is the associate director of the Rotman Institute of Philosophy. His research focuses on issues in moral philosophy and practical ethics. He received his PhD in philosophy from the University of Toronto in 2005\, where he wrote a dissertation under the direction of Wayne Sumner. In 2004-2005 he was Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Post-doctoral Fellow in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Michigan. In 2012-13\, he was Visiting Scholar at the Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics and a Plumer Visiting Research Fellow at St. Anne’s College\, Oxford University. In 2015\, he was a visiting researcher at Fondation Broucher. He received the University Students’ Council Teaching Honour Roll Certificate in 2008\, 2011\, 2012\, 2014\, and 2016. He is an Associate Editor of the Journal for the History of Analytical Philosophy.\n\nEVENT VIDEO\n\n \n  \nThis event is co-sponsored with the London Public Library. \n  \nPhoto credit: dawarwickphotography – license
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/panel-discussion-editing-human-genome/
LOCATION:Wolf Performance Hall – Central Library\, 251 Dundas St\, London\, Ontario\, N6A 6H9\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Ethics,panel discussions,Public Events,Science and Values
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20180308T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20180308T170000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20180220T193551Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210729T155521Z
UID:19859-1520523000-1520528400@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Stathis Psillos: From natures to laws of nature
DESCRIPTION:ABSTRACT\n\nThe key claim of this talk will be that the conception of nature as being governed by natural laws is thoroughly modern. It arose mostly in the natural philosophy of Rene Descartes and was meant to replace natural powers as principles of change and of connection among distinct existences. This new conception of laws of nature required the re-constitution the concept of natural law. According to the late Medieaval tradition\, exemplified in the writings of Francisco Suarez\, laws require rational agency: a law is something that has to be obeyed (executed) and this can only be satisfied by rational creatures. Given the fact that there is natural necessity\, based on the interaction of powers\, talk of laws governing the behavior natural bodies was\, at best\, metaphorical and its proper content concerned natural necessities which were grounded in the natural inclinations of things imparted on them by the Author of nature. It will be argued that this conception of power-based natural necessity was replaced by a law-based conception of natural necessity in the work of Descartes. The Cartesian conception of laws as ‘particular and secondary causes’ of worldly phenomena will be analysed and explored. \nSPEAKER PROFILE\n\nStathis Psillos is Professor of Philosophy of Science and Metaphysics at the University of Athens\, Greece and a member of the Rotman Institute of Philosophy at the University of Western Ontario (where he held the Rotman Canada Research Chair in Philosophy of Science between 2013 and 2015). He is the author or editor of seven books and of more than 140 papers and reviews in learned journals and edited collections\, mainly on scientific realism\, causation\, explanation and the history of philosophy of science. He is member of the Academy of Europe and of the International Academy of Philosophy of Science. He is a former president of the European Philosophy of Science Association (EPSA) and former editor of Metascience (2009-2014). \n \nEVENT VIDEO\n\n \nEVENT POSTER\n\nDownload a copy of the event poster. \nImage credit: Fr Lawrence Lew\, O.P.\, David and Goliath stained glass from St Cuthbert’s church in Edinburgh. (License)
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/stathis-psillos-natures-laws-nature/
LOCATION:Room 4190 – Western Interdisciplinary Research Building\, Western Interdisciplinary Research Building\, Room 4190\, London\, Ontario\, N6A 3K7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:History of Philosophy of Science,Philosophy of Physics,Stathis Psillos,Visiting Fellows
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20180307T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20180307T173000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20180129T185600Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181017T173326Z
UID:19718-1520438400-1520443800@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Ned Block: How to think about the border between seeing and thinking?
DESCRIPTION:ABSTRACT\n\nSeeing and thinking are of course different\, but is there a fundamental basis for the difference and if so\, what is it?  This talk will argue that perception is iconic in format and non-conceptual and non-propositional in content.  Further\, this way of drawing the border between perception and cognition holds even if cognitive penetration of perception is common. \nSPEAKER PROFILE\n\n NED BLOCK (Ph.D.\, Harvard)\, Silver Professor of Philosophy\, Psychology and Neural Science\, came to NYU in 1996 from MIT where he was Chair of the Philosophy Program. He works in philosophy of perception and foundations of neuroscience and cognitive science and is currently writing a book on the perception/cognition border\, The Border between Seeing and Thinking. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences\, a Fellow of the Cognitive Science Society\, has been a Guggenheim Fellow\, a Senior Fellow of the Center for the Study of Language and Information\, a Sloan Foundation Fellow\, a faculty member at two National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institutes and two Summer Seminars\, the recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities the American Council of Learned Societies and the National Science Foundation; and a recipient of the Robert A. Muh Alumni Award in Humanities and Social Science from MIT and the Jean Nicod Prize (list of past recipients of the Jean Nicod Prize)\, Ecole Normale Superieure\, Paris. He is a past president of the Society for Philosophy and Psychology\, a past Chair of the MIT Press Cognitive Science Board\, and past President of the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness.   The Philosophers’ Annual selected his papers as one of the “ten best” in 1983\, 1990\, 1995\, 2002 and 2010. He is co-editor of The Nature of Consciousness: Philosophical Debates (MIT Press\, 1997). The first of two volumes of his collected papers\, Functionalism\, Consciousness and Representation\, MIT Press came out in 2007.  Blockheads! Essays on Ned Block’s Philosophy of Mind and Consciousness\, edited by Adam Pautz and Daniel Stoljar is forthcoming from MIT Press.  It contains 18 articles each of which is replied to by Ned Block. \n  \nEVENT VIDEO\n\n \nEVENT POSTER\n\nDownload a copy of the event poster. \nPhoto credit: Isen Majennt (image flipped\, cropped; License)
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/ned-block-think-border-seeing-thinking/
LOCATION:ON
CATEGORIES:Philosophy of Mind & Neuroscience
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20180302T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20180302T170000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20180116T182533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210714T142844Z
UID:19665-1520004600-1520010000@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Jenann Ismael: The link between time\, totality\, and determinism (or why the problem of determinism is really the problem of fatalism)
DESCRIPTION:ABSTRACT\n\nThe problem of fatalism was around long before relativity\, but gained affirmation in many peoples minds from Relativity. Relativistic theories confront us with a vision of the universe from a temporally transcendent standpoint\, i.e.\, one that treats time as an internal parameter in the universe composed of events. \nThe problem of determinism also had some early precedents\, but received a precise expression with the provision of the Newtonian deterministic equations of motion. \nOn the face of it\, these seem like different problems: one has to do with time\, the other with laws. And it seems that one can be a fatalist without being a determinist\, and one can worry about determinism without being moved by the fatalist arguments. \nI will point out a connection between these two problems by linking determinism to totality and totality to transcendence. And I will look at what that connection can teach us about the nature of both problems. \n  \nSPEAKER PROFILE\n\n Most of my work falls into two classes. The first class circumscribes central concerns of the philosophy of physics. Interests there include the structure of space and time\, the foundations of quantum mechanics\, the role of simplicity and symmetry in physics\, and questions about the nature of probability\, natural laws and causal relations. The second class includes mind\, cognition\, phenomenology\, and the nature of perspective. \nI have been in the philosophy department at the University of Arizona since 1996. I received my Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1997 and held a Mellon Fellowship at Stanford for two years before taking up my position here. I have also held an neh fellowship at the National Humanities Center was at the Centre for Time a the University of Sydney from 2005–2010 as an arc Queen Elizabeth II Research Fellow for an arc Discovery Project with Huw Price and Guido Bacciagaluppi\, studying time\, probability and quantum mechanics. \nRead more about Jenann Ismael. \n  \nEVENT VIDEO\n\n \nEVENT POSTER\n\nDownload a copy of the event poster. \n\nPhoto credit: Thomas Hawk (Cropped\, rotated & adjusted colour.) License
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/jenann-ismael-link-time-totality-determinism/
LOCATION:Room 4190 – Western Interdisciplinary Research Building\, Western Interdisciplinary Research Building\, Room 4190\, London\, Ontario\, N6A 3K7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Philosophy of Physics,Visiting Fellows
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20171124T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20171124T153000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20171116T190104Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20171116T190227Z
UID:19506-1511532000-1511537400@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Ian Stewart: Restoring ecosystems after oil spills: philosophical considerations and policy implications
DESCRIPTION:ABSTRACT\n\nScientific and technological capacity for understanding and responding to oil spills is currently of great relevance for major infrastructure projects and sustainability goals in the Canadian context (and internationally). Planned expansion of oil and gas development into the Arctic is a case in point\, as are pipeline projects linking central and coastal Canada. \nThe impact of oil spills on socio-ecological systems can potentially be devastating in both the short and long terms. However\, despite decades of academic and private sector research\, oil spill response faces major uncertainties. In part\, this is because the greater the spill and its associated damage\, the lower the probability of its occurrence and (correspondingly) the less can be (or at least has been) predicted\, either scientifically or technologically\, concerning optimal restoration pathways and mitigation measures. \nThis paper will survey the main conceptual elements of this applied field of environmental science and technology by examining the main oil spill impact assessment tool of prognosis and response logistics currently used\, namely the optimization methods of ‘net environmental benefit analysis’ (NEBA).  I will argue that central concepts in the philosophy of ecology\, such as historical fidelity\, path dependence\, and dynamic equilibrium are implicated in NEBA\, although it is not clear how cogently or consistently.  I will further suggest some policy relevant consequences that greater philosophical attention could open up. \nSPEAKER PROFILE\n\n Ian Stewart joined University of King’s College in 1995 as a teaching fellow in the Foundation Year Programme (FYP). Back in the 80s\, mid-way through his undergraduate degree in physics\, he realized that the sciences interested him more from the perspectives of philosophical\, historical and sociological analysis. After completing his BSc (Hons) at Trent University\, he studied in the field of history and philosophy of science at Toronto (MA)\, and at Cambridge (PhD). \nIan is currently an assistant professor in the History of Science and Technology Programme\, and also teaches in the Foundation Year and Early Modern Studies Programmes. He is also adjunct professor at the Department of Classics\, Dalhousie University\, and Research Member\, Environmental Information: Use and Impact (www.eiui.ca) at the School of Information Management\, Dalhousie University. \nRead more about Ian Stewart. \n\n\nPhoto credit: TEDx MidAtlantic (Cropped.) License
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/ian-stewart-restoring-ecosystems-oil-spills-philosophical-considerations-policy-implications/
LOCATION:Room 1145 – Stevenson Hall\, Stevenson Hall\, Room 1145\, London\, Ontario\, N6G 2V4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Ecological Philosophy
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20170929T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20170929T130000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20170818T185829Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210625T152722Z
UID:18153-1506684600-1506690000@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Alison Gopnik: When children are better learners than adults are: Theory formation\, causal models\, and the evolution of learning.
DESCRIPTION:ABSTRACT\n\nIn the past 15 years\, we have discovered that even young children are adept at inferring causal relationship. But are there differences in the ways that younger children\, older children and adults learn? And do socioeconomic status and culture make a difference? I will present several studies showing a surprising pattern. Not only can preschoolers learn abstract higher-order principles from data\, but younger learners are actually better at inferring unusual or unlikely principles than older learners and adults. This pattern also holds for children in Peru and in Headstart programs in Oakland\, California. I relate this pattern to computational ideas about search and sampling\, to evolutionary ideas about human life history\, and to neuroscience findings about the negative effects of frontal control on wide exploration. My hypothesis is that our distinctively long\, protected human childhood allows an early period of broad hypothesis search\, exploration and creativity\, before the demands of goal-directed action set in. \nSPEAKER PROFILE\n\nAlison Gopnik is a professor of psychology and affiliate professor of philosophy at the University of California\, Berkeley. Her research explores how young children come to know about the world around them. Professor Gopnik’s current research focuses on how children learn about the causal structure of the world—how some things make other things happen. She is the author of several books\, including the New York Times bestseller\, “The Philosophical Baby\,” and\, most recently\, “The Gardener and the Carpenter: What the New Science of Child Development Tells Us About the Relationship Between Parents and Children.” \nRead more about Alison Gopnik. \n  \n  \n  \n  \nEVENT POSTER\n\nDownload a copy of the event poster. \nEVENT VIDEO
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/alison-gopnik-children-better-learners-adults-theory-formation-causal-models-evolution-learning/
LOCATION:University Community Centre\, Room 56\, 1151 Richmond Street\, London\, Ontario\, N6A 2K5\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Philosophy of Mind & Neuroscience,Science and Values
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20170928T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20170928T163000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20170812T000251Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220816T170716Z
UID:17865-1506607200-1506616200@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Alison Gopnik: The Gardener and the Carpenter: What developmental science tells us about relations between parents and children.
DESCRIPTION:In this Rotman Lecture\, co-sponsored with Western Alumni and the London Public Library\, renowned author Alison Gopnik asks us to think about parenting as a relationship. \nABSTRACT\n\nCaring deeply about our children is part of what makes us human. Yet the thing we call “parenting” is a surprisingly new invention. In the past thirty years\, the concept of parenting and the multibillion dollar industry surrounding it have transformed child care into obsessive\, controlling\, and goal-oriented labor intended to create a particular kind of child and therefore a particular kind of adult. I’ll argue that the familiar twenty-first-century picture of parents and children is profoundly wrong–it’s not just based on bad science\, it’s bad for kids and parents\, too. Drawing on the study of human evolution and my own scientific research into how children learn\, I’ll show that although caring for children is profoundly important\, it is not a matter of shaping them to turn out a particular way. Children are designed to be messy and unpredictable\, playful and imaginative\, and to be very different both from their parents and from each other. The variability and flexibility of childhood lets them innovate\, create\, and survive in an unpredictable world. “Parenting” won’t make children learn—but caring parents let children learn by creating a secure\, loving environment. \nSPEAKER PROFILE\n\nAlison Gopnik is a professor of psychology and affiliate professor of philosophy at the University of California\, Berkeley. Her research explores how young children come to know about the world around them. Professor Gopnik’s current research focuses on how children learn about the causal structure of the world—how some things make other things happen. She is the author of several books\, including the New York Times bestseller\, “The Philosophical Baby\,” and\, most recently\, “The Gardener and the Carpenter: What the New Science of Child Development Tells Us About the Relationship Between Parents and Children.” \nRead more about Alison Gopnik. \n  \n  \n  \n  \nEVENT POSTER\n\nView a copy of the event poster. \nEVENT VIDEO\n\n \n 
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/alison-gopnik-gardener-carpenterwhat-developmental-science-tells-us-relations-parents-children/
LOCATION:Wolf Performance Hall – Central Library\, 251 Dundas St\, London\, Ontario\, N6A 6H9\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Philosophy of Mind & Neuroscience,Public Events,Public Lectures,Rotman Lectures,Science and Values
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20170614
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20170618
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20170816T191214Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200608T160518Z
UID:17983-1497470400-1497729599@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:2017 PhilMiLCog Graduate Student Conference
DESCRIPTION:PhilMiLCog is a three-day graduate conference with a broad and interdisciplinary scope.  The conference\, now in its 15th year\, is recognized as one of the top philosophy graduate conferences in North America\, synthesizing research from the Philosophy of Mind\, Language\, and Cognitive Science\, including psychology\, linguistics\, evolution\, and computer science. PhilMiLCog provides an opportunity for graduate students with common interests from various departments in North America and Europe to come together and participate in lively scholarly research with leading experts in their field. \nTo view further details about the conference and information on accommodations\, please visit the PhilMiLCog website. \n2017 Keynote Speakers: \nMuhammad Ali Khalidi (Philosophy\, York University)\nGillian Barker (Philosophy\, University of Western Ontario)\nMarc Joanisse (Brain and Mind Institute\, University of Western Ontario) \nPast Speakers: \n2016: Mazviita Chirimuuta\, Tim Bayne & Jessica Grahn\n2015: Kristin Andrews & Genoveva Marti\n2014: Berit Brogaard & Angela Mendelovici\n2013: Edouard Machery & Jacqueline Sullivan\n2012: Kathleen Akins & Brie Gertler\n2011: William Lycan & Susan Schneider\n2010: Fred Adams & Richard Samuels\n2009: Jesse Prinz & John Nicholas\n2008: Reinaldo Elugardo & Peter Ludlow\n2007: Dorit Bar-On & Keith Simmons\n2006: Michael Devitt & Ned Block\n2005: Peter Carruthers & Robert Stainton\n2004: Ernest Lepore & Chris Viger\n2003: David Rosenthal \n\nThis year’s conference is sponsored by the Brain and Mind Institute\, the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures\, the Faculty of Arts & Humanities\, and the Department of Philosophy at Western University.
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/2017-philmilcog-graduate-student-conference/
LOCATION:Room 1145 – Stevenson Hall\, Stevenson Hall\, Room 1145\, London\, Ontario\, N6G 2V4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Conference,Graduate Student Events,Philosophy of Mind & Neuroscience
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20170614
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20170618
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20170815T212912Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181017T162148Z
UID:17970-1497470400-1497729599@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:2017 Philosophy of Logic Math and Physics Graduate Student Conference
DESCRIPTION:Join us on June 15-16\, 2017 for the seventeenth annual Philosophy of Logic\, Math and Physics (LMP) graduate student conference in philosophy at Western University in London\, Ontario\, Canada. The LMP Graduate Student Conference will bring together philosophers of logic\, mathematics\, and physics for two days of presentations and discussions with some of the leaders in these fields. We are pleased to announce the 2017 Keynote Speaker will be Doreen Fraser from University of Waterloo. Dr. Fraser’s research is largely in the philosophy of quantum field theory\, but extends to broader issues such as analogies in physics and the applicability of mathematics. \nPresenters at this year’s conference include Eugene Chua (University of Cambridge)\, Jeremy Steeger (University of Notre Dame)\, Alex Meehan (Princeton University)\, John Dougherty (University of California\, San Diego)\, Adrian Yee (University of British Columbia)\, Josh Hunt (University of Michigan)\, Jens Jager (University of Oxford)\, and Mike Schneider (University of California\, Irvine). \nLMP will take place following the Rotman annual conference\, Cosmology and the Future of Spacetime\, held on June 12-14. \nIf you wish to attend the LMP conference\, please contact the conference organizers at uwolmp@gmail.com \nTo view the conference program\, accommodation details and information on past conferences\, please visit the LMP website. \n\nThis conference is supported by The Rotman Institute of Philosophy\, The Department of Philosophy\, and The Department of Mathematics at Western University.
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/2017-philosophy-logic-math-physics-graduate-student-conference/
LOCATION:Room 1145 – Stevenson Hall\, Stevenson Hall\, Room 1145\, London\, Ontario\, N6G 2V4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Conference,Graduate Student Events,Philosophy of Physics
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20170611
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20170615
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20170816T191740Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181017T162157Z
UID:17987-1497211200-1497470399@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Rotman 2017 Annual Conference: Cosmology and the Future of Spacetime
DESCRIPTION:Cosmology and the Future of Spacetime is a three-day conference taking place June 12-14\, 2017 at Western University in London\, Ontario\, Canada. To view full details about the conference\, please visit the conference page on the philosophy of cosmology website.  \nCONFERENCE DESCRIPTION\n\nEven though general relativity has enjoyed profound success throughout the century since its discovery\, there are at least two reasons to think that it may have to undergo small\, albeit possibly profound\, revisions. One reason\, essentially uncontroversial\, is the open problem of how to unify general relativity with quantum theory\, while the second reason\, essentially controversial\, regards whether certain dynamical anomalies in astronomy and cosmology are best explained in terms of new\, otherwise undetected forms of matter\, or in terms of a modification of gravitational theory. \nWe will explore these two themes from a more specific angle. In particular\, the conference speakers will address the issue of “spacetime emergence” within certain approaches to quantum gravity in a cosmological setting. If\, as is usually taken to be the case\, general relativity breaks down as a classical initial singularity is approached\, what could this mean for the view of spacetime as emergent in the early universe? Does the thermodynamic arrow of time require treating initial and final singularities differently and thereby impose fundamental constraints on the structure of a future theory of quantum gravity? More generally\, what could in principle even be meant by a physical theory without at least some underlying notion of spacetime? \nSimilarly\, if the path is pursued of modifying general relativity (MOND\, TeVeS\, f(R)\, torsion\, etc.) in order to avoid the new forms of matter and/or energy that the cosmological concordance model posits\, what does this mean for the lessons about matter\, motion\, gravity and spacetime that Einstein taught us? We will also consider recent work that clarifies the space of alternatives to general relativity\, in order to assess the viability of proposals to emulate general relativity’s success at length scales where it has passed stringent tests\, while differing at cosmological scales. \nThis conference will be followed by a graduate student conference\, the 17th Annual Philosophy of Logic\, Math and Physics (LMP) Graduate Student Conference. \nCONFIRMED SPEAKERS\n\nNiayesh Afshordi (University of Waterloo\, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics) \nTessa Baker (University of Oxford) \nRobert Brandenberger (McGill University) \nKaren Crowther (University of Geneva) \nHenrique Gomes (Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics) \nNick Huggett (University of Illinois at Chicago) \nMichela Massimi (University of Edinburgh) \nDaniele Oriti (Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics – Albert Einstein Institute) \nSimon Saunders (University of Oxford) \nLee Smolin (Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics) \nFrancesca Vidotto (Institute for Mathematics\, Astrophysics and Particle Physics – Radboud University Nijmegen) \n\nCONFERENCE VIDEOS\n \n\nCONFERENCE POSTER\n\n\n\nView a copy of the conference poster.\n\nCONFERENCE FUNDING\n\n\n\nFunding for this conference has been generously provided by the John Templeton Foundation; the Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science\, University of California\, Irvine; and the Rotman Institute of Philosophy.\n\nImage credit: Original artwork by Kaća Bradonjić. Part of the “Projections” series\, inspired by Carlo Rovelli\, “Space and Time (or not?) in Loop Quantum Gravity” (cropped).
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/rotman-2017-annual-conference-cosmology-future-spacetime/
LOCATION:Room 114 – North Campus Building\, 2004 Perth Drive\, London\, Ontario\, N6G\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Annual Rotman Conferences,Conference,Philosophy of Physics
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20170413T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20170413T123000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20170816T191436Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20170816T191436Z
UID:17985-1492081200-1492086600@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:James G. Lennox: Aristotle and Darwin: Antagonists or Kindred Spirits?
DESCRIPTION:ABSTRACT\n\nIn the decades following the forging of the so-called Neo-Darwinian Synthesis in the 1940s\, a number of its philosophical defenders created a myth about what Charles Darwin was up against\, a viewpoint called “typological essentialism” often attributed to Aristotle. In this paper I first sketch the history of how this myth was created. I then establish that it is a myth by providing an account of Aristotle’s essentialism as it is actually displayed in his philosophy of biology and in his biological practice. It has nothing to do with the ‘mythic’ version. We then turn to what Darwin was really up against–a common\, anti-evolutionary way of defining the species concept in Darwin’s time (that owes nothing to Aristotle)\, and to his attempts to re-orient thinking about it. I will close by reconsidering Aristotle and Charles Darwin: Does it make any sense to think about the relationship between two thinkers separated by more than two millennia living in such vastly different cultures? What did Charles Darwin himself think about Aristotle? \nSPEAKER PROFILE\n\n James G. Lennox is a professor in the department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh. His research specialties include Ancient Greek philosophy and science\, William Harvey\, Darwin\, and Darwinism. He has published widely on history and philosophy of biology focused on scientific inquiry and explanation in historical context. \nRead more about James G. Lennox. \n  \nPhoto credit: Ammonite by Scott Billings (License)
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/james-g-lennox-aristotle-darwin-antagonists-kindred-spirits/
LOCATION:Room 1145 – Stevenson Hall\, Stevenson Hall\, Room 1145\, London\, Ontario\, N6G 2V4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Philosophy of Biology
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20170406T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20170406T133000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20170816T192227Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20170816T192227Z
UID:17990-1491480000-1491485400@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Hanna Pickard: Why Do Addicts Use? Getting Real about Drugs\, Identity\, and Adversity
DESCRIPTION:Read the interview with Hanna Pickard conducted during her visit to the Rotman Institute.  \nABSTRACT\n\nThe mainstream view of addiction is that it is a neurobiological disease of compulsion. Yet the evidence is overwhelming that addicts retain choice and a degree of control over drug consumption. This talk explores the power of the neurobiological myth and the social and moral function it serves\, offering an alternative explanation of why addicts continue to use despite negative consequences. To understand addiction\, we need not just neurobiology. We need to get real about the value of drugs\, the importance of psycho-socio-economic context\, and the role of narrative self-identity. \nSPEAKER PROFILE\n\nHanna Pickard is a Reader in Philosophy at the University of Birmingham. She specializes in the philosophy of mind and psychiatry and clinical ethics\, exploring philosophical questions that arise out of clinical practice and related science\, law and policy. Her central current research project involves articulating the concepts of responsibility and blame that are used within clinical contexts and their relevance to philosophy and criminal justice. She also works on the nature of addiction. \nAs well as being a philosopher\, she works in a therapeutic community for patients with personality disorder and complex needs\, and she develops and delivers training for mental services and other organisations. \nRead more about Hanna Pickard. \nEVENT POSTER\n\nDownload a copy of the event poster. \nEVENT VIDEO
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/hanna-pickard-addicts-use-getting-real-drugs-identity-adversity/
LOCATION:Room 2020 – Social Science Centre\, Social Science Centre\, Western University\, London\, Ontario\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Philosophy of Mind & Neuroscience
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20170317T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20170317T133000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20170816T213230Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181017T154416Z
UID:18036-1489752000-1489757400@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Aimee van Wynsberghe: The Ethics of Ethical Robots
DESCRIPTION:ABSTRACT\n\nRobots are no longer fuel for the imagination of science fiction writers; they are now a part of our personal and professional lives and will become increasingly so in the years to come. They are already a part of surgical procedures and are delivering sheets and medications throughout the hospital. They are becoming a piece of the average construction site and they assist in farming and agriculture. They help in humanitarian endeavors for the protection of endangered species and they provide supplies in times of natural disasters. Given the often morally charged contexts within which these robots are being placed\, many researchers believe that certain robots ought to be endowed with moral reasoning capabilities. This would allow the robot to make an ethical decision on its own\, without the direct input from a human operator. The nascent field of machine ethics is dedicated to the question of “moral machines”\, namely can it be done and if so how? Moral Philosopher Susan Leigh Anderson\, one of the pioneers of the field\, writes: “the ultimate goal of machine ethics…is to create autonomous ethical machines”. This would mean that your autonomous car will be capable of deliberating who to kill in an emergency situation: the child crossing the street or the driver in the car? This may also mean that the home care robot will ponder the rights and wrongs of fulfilling your request for an evening brandy if you have already had one and its programming warns against another. Alongside the consequences for the human users of these moral machines are the broader societal and legal considerations of creating an artificial moral agent in terms of its status in society: as a slave to humans or as a member of our moral community deserving of rights\, freedoms and protections? This talk will present the domain of machine ethics; what is it and what are the consequences of creating moral machines. The core of this talk will focus on the question of whether or not we should develop moral machines rather than how we might do this. \nSPEAKER PROFILE\n\nAimee van Wynsberghe \nAimee van Wynsberghe is assistant professor of ethics and technology at the Technical University of Delft in the Netherlands. She is co-founder and president of the Foundation for Responsible Robotics. She is also a member of the 4TU center for ethics and technology where she heads the robotics task force. With the help of an NWO personal research grant she is researching how we can responsibly design service robots. Her past research looked at evaluating and designing care robots. \nRead more about Aimee van Wynsberghe. \nEVENT POSTER\n\nDownload a copy of the event poster. \nEVENT VIDEO\n\n[ \nPhoto credit: Elias Gayles (license)
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/aimee-van-wynsberghe-ethics-ethical-robots/
LOCATION:Room 2202 – Spencer Engineering Building\, Spencer Engineering Building\, Western University\, London\, Ontario\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Ethics,Public Events,Public Lectures
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20170316T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20170316T163000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20170816T214952Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181017T152643Z
UID:18040-1489676400-1489681800@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Aimee van Wynsberghe: Robot Ethics: What is it and why should we care?
DESCRIPTION:ABSTRACT\n\nThe 21st century is predicted to be the century of service robots. Service robots differ from factory robots in that they function in unstructured and unpredictable human environments and will even co-operate with humans. They can already be found in: neighbourhood stores for greeting us; hospitals to help with surgeries\, rehabilitation\, or for the delivery of sheets and medications; and\, our homes for vacuuming or cutting the grass. Robots have proven effective in construction\, farming\, education\, and agriculture. The latest developments even have service robots as humanitarian support systems for delivering resources as emergency response aids\, or for the tracking of endangered species. The good that will come from robots seems limitless; however\, they also hold the potential for negative consequences (e.g. displacement of workers\, unsafe situations\, and infringement of rights). The field of robot ethics is dedicated to addressing both the positive and negative issues related to the design\, development\, and deployment of robotics-at-large. This talk will introduce the domain of robot ethics as well as the reasons for which every citizen ought to be informed and concerned with the rise of service robots in our daily lives and spaces. What’s more\, given that design choices impact both the good and bad outcomes of robots\, there are reasons to be concerned if ethical considerations are not taken into account in the design and development of service robots rather than their implementation exclusively. Robot ethicists want to uncover the positives to come from this technology and help steer the development accordingly. It is through thoughtful reflection and deliberation of the kind shown in this talk that will help us to shape a future with robots that is worth wanting. \nSPEAKER PROFILE\n\nAimee van Wynsberghe \nAimee van Wynsberghe is assistant professor of ethics and technology at the Technical University of Delft in the Netherlands. She is co-founder and president of the Foundation for Responsible Robotics. She is also a member of the 4TU center for ethics and technology where she heads the robotics task force. With the help of an NWO personal research grant she is researching how we can responsibly design service robots. Her past research looked at evaluating and designing care robots. \nRead more about Aimee van Wynsberghe. \nEVENT POSTER\n\nDownload a copy of the event poster. \nEVENT VIDEO\n\n \n\nThis event was co-sponsored with the London Public Library. \nPhoto credit: Elias Gayles (license)
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/aimee-van-wynsberghe-robot-ethics-care/
LOCATION:Stevenson & Hunt Room A – Central Library\, 251 Dundas St\, London\, Ontario\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Ethics,Public Events,Public Lectures
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20170315T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20170315T163000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20170816T215501Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181017T152650Z
UID:18046-1489590000-1489595400@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Panel Discussion: Responsible Robotics: Shaping a future with robots worth wanting
DESCRIPTION:ABSTRACT\n\nOn the cusp of the robotics revolution we will now encounter robots in our day-to-day lives whether it’s a robot to deliver our pizza or greet us in the shopping mall\, or having a robot assist a surgeon perform a surgery. Not only will this powerful technology provide us with incredible benefits\, relieving us from dull or dangerous activities\, but it will also introduce negative consequences that we must deal with. Consequences such as: how can we ensure that the robot is safe and secure\, or how will the robot protect our privacy when we interact with it? These are the kinds of questions that the field of robot ethics addresses and it is time to turn these reflections into concrete action. The field of responsible robotics aims to do just that by bringing together robot ethicists\, policy makers\, and industry leaders to brainstorm about the kind of regulation needed to protect consumers without stifling innovation. \nPANELISTS\n\n\nAimee van Wynsberghe is assistant professor of ethics and technology at the Technical University of Delft. She is co-founder and president of the Foundation for Responsible Robotics. She is also a member of the 4TU center for ethics and technology where she heads the robotics task force. With the help of an NWO personal research grant she is researching how we can responsibly design service robots. Her past research looked at evaluating and designing care robots.\nChristopher Schlachta is a Professor in the Department of Surgery and the Department of Oncology at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry\, Western University. He is also Medical Director of CSTAR (Canadian Surgical Technologies & Advanced Robotics) at London Health Sciences Centre. He is known for his clinical expertise in minimally invasive surgery and in particular laparoscopic and computer-assisted surgery for gastrointestinal diseases oncology.\nRyan Gariepy is Chief Technology Officer of Clearpath Robotics. As CTO\, he drives the development of Clearpath’s autonomous control software while providing technical strategy for the company’s product lines and managing external research partnerships.\nJesse Kirkpatrick is Assistant Director of the Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy at George Mason University\, an affiliate Assistant Research Professor in Mason’s graduate neuroethics concentration\, and a Politico-Military Analyst for Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Lab. He specializes in political and moral philosophy\, with an emphasis on the just war tradition\, emerging technologies\, human rights\, and security studies.\nKristen Thomasen is an Assistant Professor of Law\, Robotics and Society at the University of Windsor. She is a member of the University of Windsor’s LTEC Lab for law\, technology and entrepreneurship. Her current research focuses on the Canadian regulation of drones\, and the impact of drone technology on privacy in public spaces.\n\nMODERATOR\n\nAnthony Skelton (Rotman Institute of Philosophy\, Western University) \nEVENT POSTER\n\nDownload a copy of the event poster. \nEVENT VIDEO\n\n \n  \nEVENT TRAILER\n\nView a brief trailer for this event. \n \n \n\nThis event was co-sponsored with the London Public Library. \nPhoto credit: Elias Gayles (license)
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/panel-discussion-responsible-robotics-shaping-future-robots-worth-wanting/
LOCATION:Wolf Performance Hall – Central Library\, 251 Dundas St\, London\, Ontario\, N6A 6H9\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Ethics,panel discussions,Public Events
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20170217T043000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20170217T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20170816T212723Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181017T162204Z
UID:18033-1487305800-1487332800@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:The Social Impact of Medicalizing Psychiatry
DESCRIPTION:WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION\n\nPsychiatry is increasingly being influenced by research in neuroscience and mainstream medicine. There is a push to reform psychiatry’s diagnostic categories to reflect increasing knowledge about the brain structures and neural mechanisms associated with psychopathology. Pharmaceutical treatments are quickly replacing talk therapies. Getting funding for psychiatric research increasingly requires a focus on cellular and molecular mechanisms rather than social or environmental risk factors. These changes have surely helped some patients\, but the increasing medicalization of mental illness may also have negative effects on already marginalized and stigmatized people. This workshop will examine the social impact on such groups of the push to medicalize psychiatry\, and will seek solutions at the level of health and science policy. \nIn some cases psychoactive drugs and psychiatric diagnoses are being misused to control and stigmatize vulnerable populations. The elderly\, and children with behavioral or developmental problems are being over-medicated. Diagnoses like Oppositional Defiant Disorder pathologize normal responses to stressful environments of people in poor and racialized communities. Gender Identity Disorder stigmatizes diversity even while it opens the door to insurable medical care for trans* people. In other cases social and environmental factors cause mental distress\, such as in refugees fleeing war zones\, or indigenous populations facing colonialism\, but it is unclear whether research and treatments focused on brain mechanisms effectively address these problems. \nThere is room here for policy solutions that might better address the social and environmental causes of psychopathology\, de-stigmatize neurodiversity\, and provide better support for vulnerable populations seeking care. The workshop will feature panelists who work in epidemiology\, psychiatry\, philosophy of science\, bioethics\, and mental health policy. Participants representing the perspectives of patients\, nurses\, social workers\, and community groups are very much encouraged to attend. \nView and download a copy of the workshop poster. \nINVITED SPEAKERS\n\nBranka Agic \nBranka Agic is the Manager of Health Equity at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Public Health. She holds a PhD in Health and Behavioral Sciences from the University of Toronto and a Medical Degree from the University of Sarajevo\, Bosnia and Herzegovina. She has extensive experience in counselling\, research and service development with immigrants. Her primary research interest is in mental health and substance use among immigrants\, refugees\, ethno-cultural and racialized groups. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture (CCVT)\, and is a member of the Special Advisory Table on Syrian Refugee Resettlement and UNHCR Regional Beyond Detention Strategy Working Group. \nKelly Anderson \nKelly Anderson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics at Western University\, with a cross-appointment in the Department of Psychiatry. Anderson’s research program lies at the intersection of population health and health services research\, specifically in the area of mental health. She is interested in the risk\, course\, and outcome of mental illness for different population groups\, as well as in the social determinants of health service access and utilization. She has a particular interest in the mental health of adolescents and young adults\, and her research to date has focused on first-episode psychosis and early intervention services.  Dr. Anderson is a recent recipient of a New Investigator Fellowship from the Ontario Mental Health Foundation to use a novel application of health administrative data to examine the impact of early psychosis intervention services at the population level. \nJames Robert Brown \nJames Robert Brown is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Toronto.   He has written several books on a wide range of topics in the philosophy of science and mathematics including: thought experiments\, foundational issues in mathematics and physics\, visual reasoning\, and issues involving science and society\, such as the role of commercialization in medical research. \n  \nŞerife Tekin \nŞerife Tekin is an assistant professor of philosophy at Daemen College\, Buffalo and  an Associate Fellow of the Center for Philosophy of Science\, at the University of Pittsburgh. Her work is at the cusp of feminist approaches to philosophy of mind\, philosophy of science\, and medical ethics. Her co-edited book\, Extraordinary Science and Psychiatry: Responding to the Current Crisis in Mental Health Research\, is published with the MIT University Press in 2016. Her work has appeared in journals such as Philosophy\, Psychiatry and Psychology; Public Affairs Quarterly; Journal of Medical Ethics; Philosophical Psychology; The American Journal of Bioethics\, and in books such as Classifying Psychopathology: Mental Kinds and Natural Kinds (MIT Press); The Psychiatric Babel: Assessing the DSM-5 (Springer’s Press); Anthology on Pharmaceuticals (Springer’s Press). She is the Executive Coordinator of the Association for the Advancement of Philosophy and Psychiatry. \nWORKSHOP SCHEDULE\n\nTalk abstracts are available on the workshop schedule. \n\n\n\n9:30 – 10:00 am\n Welcome & Meet-and-Greet\n\n\n10:00 – 11:00 am\n Kelly Anderson: The higher risk of psychosis among immigrants and refugees in Canada: Current hypotheses\n\n\n11:10 – 12:10 pm\n Branka Agic: The social determinants of mental illness\n\n\n12:10 – 1:30 pm\n Lunch Break\n\n\n1:30 – 2:30 pm\n James Robert Brown: Commercialization and the Motives for Medicalization\n\n\n2:40 – 3:40 pm\n Şerife Tekin: The Self and Mental Disorder Narratives\n\n\n3:40 – 4:00 pm\n Coffee Break\n\n\n4:00 – 4:45 pm\n Panel Discussion\n\n\n\nWORKSHOP ORGANIZERS\n\nLead Workshop Organizers: \n\nCatherine Stinson (Western University\, Rotman Institute of Philosophy)\nDerek Oswick (Western University\, Rotman Institute of Philosophy)\n\nOrganizing Committee: \n\nVeromi Arsiradam (Western University)\nCarolyn McLeod (Western University)\nJacqueline Sullivan (Western University\, Rotman Institute of Philosophy)\n\nPARKING\, ACCOMMODATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION\n\nOn-campus Parking: The most convenient visitor parking on campus is available in either the Thompson/Alumni Lot or the Weldon Lot. Both lots are about a 5-10 minute walk to the conference location. Rates are $1.50 per hour\, with a $12 max. A campus map and further details are available on Western’s Parking Services page. \nFor those who require accommodations in London\, we recommend Guest House on the Mount — a low-priced option (rates starting at $49/night) located next to Western’s Campus. \nOther nearby hotels include: \n\nWindermere Manor\nStationPark All Suite Hotel\nHoliday Inn Express: London Downtown\nHilton London Ontario\nResidence Inn London Downtown\n\nIndividuals travelling to London may choose to fly directly into the London airport (YXU)\, or instead fly into either Toronto or Detroit\, MI. An airpot shuttle service\, Robert Q\, offers transportation from London to these other nearby airports. \nWORKSHOP FUNDING\n\nFunding for this workshop has been generously provided by the Marc Sanders Foundation through the Minorities and Philosophy (MAP) Chapter at the Department of Philosophy at Western. Other monetary contributions have come from the following areas at Western University: the Rotman Institute of Philosophy\, Faculty of Arts and Humanities\, Office of the Provost\, Research Western\, Philosophy Graduate Students’ Association (PGSA)\, School of Graduate and Postgraduate Studies (SGPS)\, Society of Graduate Students (SOGS)\, and Western Student Experience. \n\n\n\n \nImage credit: Anant Nath Sharma (License)
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/social-impact-medicalizing-psychiatry/
LOCATION:Dr. David S.H. Chu International Student Centre\, International and Graduate Affairs Building\, Western University\, London\, Ontario\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Conference,Other Conferences,Philosophy of Mind & Neuroscience
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/wp-content/uploads/simpworkshopFCA.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20161102T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20161102T163000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20170817T184113Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181017T152700Z
UID:18059-1478098800-1478104200@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Louis Charland: Why Neuroscience Needs “Passion”
DESCRIPTION:ABSTRACT\n\nAfter a brief review of the history of affective neuroscience and the theoretical status of emotion in contemporary neuroscience\, it will be argued that present day neuroscience suffers from a serious theoretical limitation that is largely due to its focus on short-term observation and reliance on laboratory measurement technologies that restrict it to the study of affective states of short duration. Consequently we have very little theoretical understanding of how short term affective states\, like emotions\, are organized into complex networks that evolve overtime\, forming complex affective processes of long duration\, in which individual emotions are organized in law-like ways. The solution is to reintroduce the vocabulary and study of long term ‘passions’ into neuroscience and distinguish these from the individual emotions which they direct and organize. \nSPEAKER PROFILE\n\nLouis Charland came to Western in the Summer of 1998. His previous job was at the Faculty of Medicine of McGill University in Montreal\, where he was a member of the Biomedical Ethics Unit and the Clinical Trials Research Group. While at McGill\, he taught in the Master’s Specialization Program in Bioethics and served on the Research Ethics Board of the Douglas Psychiatric Hospital. \nPrior to his appointment to McGill\, he taught philosophy and bioethics at the University of Toronto. During that time\, he served as a Research Associate at the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics. in 1993-1994\, he worked as bioethicist at the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children. \nIn addition to academic and hospital experience\, he has also worked as a research and program evaluation consultant for the Government of Ontario’s Premier’s Council on Health Strategy. The Council was a “think-tank” created to plan for the future of healthcare in Ontario. It was first created and chaired by Premier David Peterson and subsequently chaired by Premier Bob Rae. During his stay with the Premier’s Council he authored several reports on the Council’s Health Innovation Fund and traveled extensively as an evaluator and research consultant for the Fund. His experience as a consultant also includes work with the Ministry of Community and Social Services\, and the Mental Health Branch of the Ministry of Health. ”  \nRead more about Louis Charland. \nEVENT POSTER\n\nView and download a copy of the event poster. \n\n \nThis event is co-sponsored with the London Public Library and the Western Department of Philosophy.
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/louis-charland-neuroscience-needs-passion/
LOCATION:Martha Bishop Community Room – Landon Library\, 167 Wortley Road\, London\, Ontario\, N6C 3P6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Library Lectures,Philosophy of Mind & Neuroscience,Public Events
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20161026T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20161026T163000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20170817T183156Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181017T152706Z
UID:18055-1477494000-1477499400@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Chris Viger: Brains and Persons
DESCRIPTION:ABSTRACT\n\nIs increasing knowledge of how our brains cause behaviour undermining the very conception of freedom that moral and legal responsibilities presuppose? Is our sense of ourselves as persons under assault from science? Must we rethink criminal responsibility? I present contemporary philosophical views of free will and question how they square with neuroscience. \nSPEAKER PROFILE\n\nChris Viger began his academic training in mathematics and logic and taught mathematics for three years at the Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific. He began retraining in philosophy at Carleton University\, supervised by Andrew Brook\, and then completed his PhD at McGill University\, supervised by Paul Pietroski. After graduating\, Chris was a postdoctoral fellow at Tufts University working with Daniel Dennett\, a visiting professor at Dalhousie University\, a SSHRC postdoctoral fellow\, and a visiting fellow at the CUNY Graduate Center and Rutgers Center for Cognitive Science\, before joining the faculty at Western. In 2008\, he was awarded the Marilyn Robinson Teaching Award for pre-tenured faculty at Western and is currently the assistant department chair and the undergraduate chair (2010-14) and the Rotman Faculty Fellow in Philosophy and Neuroscience (2012-14). He works in philosophy of mind\, psychology\, and cognitive science\, with his research focused on the relation between language and thought.  \nRead more about Chris Viger. \nEVENT POSTER\n\nView and download a copy of the event poster. \n\n \nThis event is co-sponsored with the London Public Library and the Western Department of Philosophy.
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/chris-viger-brains-persons/
LOCATION:Martha Bishop Community Room – Landon Library\, 167 Wortley Road\, London\, Ontario\, N6C 3P6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Library Lectures,Philosophy of Mind & Neuroscience,Public Events
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20161012T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20161012T163000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20170817T184422Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181017T152714Z
UID:18061-1476284400-1476289800@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Jackie Sullivan: Understanding Mental Illness: Will a Single Explanatory Model Do?
DESCRIPTION:ABSTRACT\n\nThe medical model of mental illness is often characterized as assuming that mental illness is a disorder of the brain. In contrast\, the biopsychosocial model allows for the possibility that mental illness is caused by a combination of biological\, psychological and environmental causes. Which model is superior for understanding\, explaining and treating mental illness? \nSPEAKER PROFILE\n\nDr. Sullivan received her Ph.D. from the Department of History and Philosophy of Science (HPS) at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) in 2007 and an M.S. from Pitt’s Department of Neuroscience in 2003. Her research interests are in philosophy of science\, philosophy of mind\, and philosophy of neuroscience. Her current research focuses on epistemological problems that arise in the contexts of experimentation on learning and memory in cellular and molecular neurobiology.  \nRead more about Jackie Sullivan. \nEVENT POSTER\n\nView and download a copy of the event poster. \n\n \nThis event is co-sponsored with the London Public Library and the Western Department of Philosophy.
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/jackie-sullivan-understanding-mental-illness-will-single-explanatory-model/
LOCATION:Martha Bishop Community Room – Landon Library\, 167 Wortley Road\, London\, Ontario\, N6C 3P6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Library Lectures,Philosophy of Mind & Neuroscience,Public Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/wp-content/uploads/sullivanFCA.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20161005T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20161005T163000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20170817T184613Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181115T203113Z
UID:18064-1475679600-1475685000@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Catherine Stinson: The Body in ‘Mental Illness’
DESCRIPTION:ABSTRACT\n\nIf mental and physical are separate domains\, “mental illness” should not involve the body. But bodily symptoms are common among people diagnosed with psychiatric disorders. Examples are altered perceptions of hot and cold\, and hallucinations of touch. Overlooking the body may contribute to the stigma of psychiatric diagnosis. \nSPEAKER PROFILE\n\nCatherine Stinson is a philosopher of science with interests in neuroscience\, psychology\, psychiatry\, and computational science. Her main interest is how scientific explanations work: How can we be sure that experimental models behave the same way as the systems they stand in for? Are computational models more like experiments run on a digital model\, or like a series of calculations? How can we relate the personal\, cognitive\, neural\, and molecular level explanations of a complex psychiatric disorder? One project Catherine is working on at the Rotman Institute is coming up with an account of what sort of a thing an explanation is that can make sense of the diverse and overlapping explanations (at multiple levels\, coming from various types of models) that we use to understand a given scientific phenomenon. \nRead more about Catherine Stinson. \nEVENT POSTER\n\nView and download a copy of the event poster. \nEVENT VIDEO\n\n \n \nThis event is co-sponsored with the London Public Library and the Western Department of Philosophy.
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/catherine-stinson-body-mental-illness/
LOCATION:Martha Bishop Community Room – Landon Library\, 167 Wortley Road\, London\, Ontario\, N6C 3P6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Library Lectures,Philosophy of Mind & Neuroscience,Public Events
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20160916T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20160916T143000
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20170817T185610Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181017T152750Z
UID:18066-1474030800-1474036200@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Andrew Light: What Happened in Paris? How Differentiation Evolved to Create a Global Climate Agreement.
DESCRIPTION:ABSTRACT\n\nLast December\, after twenty years of apparent incremental progress\, over 190 countries meeting under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change managed to create what promises to be a lasting international climate agreement. Debates continue however over whether the greenhouse gas mitigation commitments that parties brought to the table in Paris are sufficiently robust to achieve the agreement’s lofty aspirations. These debates may however miss one of the agreement’s most important outcomes: potentially settling the core problem of distributive justice that made this process so difficult: which parties need to cut their emissions\, how much\, and on what time frame. To better understand the significance of the new Paris Agreement we will review the history of the UN climate negotiations\, with a focus on how debates over differentiation evolved over time to create a platform for what is expected to be increased commitments to climate action moving forward. \nSPEAKER PROFILE\n\nAndrew Light has two interrelated careers. One is as an academic where he has worked for almost twenty years on the normative implications of environmental policy. The other is as a policy expert and advocate where he works on the front lines of international climate and science policy. From 2013-2016 he served as Senior Adviser and India Counselor to the U.S. Special Envoy on Climate Change\, and as a Staff Climate Adviser in the Secretary of State’s Office of Policy Planning in the U.S. Department of State. In this capacity he was Co-Chair of the U.S.-India Joint Working Group on Combating Climate Change\, Chair of the Interagency Climate Working Group on the Sustainable Development Goals\, and served on the senior strategy team for the UN climate negotiations. Before joining the U.S. government he was also a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress\, where he was chief adviser on international climate policy to the center’s founder and chairman\, John Podesta. At this time he authored or co-authored eleven major reports on climate change and renewable energy\, and over a hundred columns and editorials. He will continue much of this work in his new role as Distinguished Senior Fellow in the climate program at the World Resources Institute. \nIn his academic work Light is the author of over 100 articles and book chapters on climate change\, restoration ecology\, and urban sustainability\, and has authored\, co-authored\, and edited 19 books\, including Environmental Values (Routledge\, 2008)\, Controlling Technology (Prometheus\, 2005)\, Moral and Political Reasoning in Environmental Practice (MIT\, 2003)\, Technology and the Good Life? (Chicago\, 2000)\, Environmental Pragmatism (Routledge\, 1996)\, and the forthcoming Ethics in the Anthropocene (MIT). He has previously taught at a variety of institutions\, including the Environmental Conservation Program at NYU and the School of Public Affairs and Department of Philosophy at the University of Washington\, Seattle. More detail about his work can be found at the Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy website. \nRead more about Andrew Light. \nEVENT POSTER\n\nView and download a copy of the event poster. \nEVENT VIDEO
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/andrew-light-happened-paris-differentiation-evolved-create-global-climate-agreement/
LOCATION:Room 2202 – Spencer Engineering Building\, Spencer Engineering Building\, Western University\, London\, Ontario\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Ecological Philosophy,Public Events,Public Lectures,Science and Values
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20160610
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20160613
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20170817T190148Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181017T162213Z
UID:18068-1465588800-1465761599@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Information-Theoretic Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics: 2016 Annual Philosophy of Physics Conference
DESCRIPTION:CONFERENCE DESCRIPTION\n\n\nInformation-Theoretic Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics (#ITIQM) is a two day workshop taking place June 11-12\, 2016 at Western University in London\, Ontario\, Canada. This is the 20th annual UWO philosophy of physics conference. To view the conference program and additional resources\, please visit the conference page. \nThe workshop is inspired by Jeffrey Bub’s forthcoming book Bananaworld: Quantum Mechanics for Primates (Oxford University Press). The workshop will bring together diverse views on issues raised by and related to Professor Bub’s work on developing an information-theoretic interpretation of quantum theory. \nThe workshop will consist of six sessions\, one of which will be a special session dedicated to Professor Bub’s new book. After leading off this special session with a summary of his book\, Professor Bub will then yield the floor to a distinguished panel of commentators: Leah Henderson (Groningen)\, Allen Stairs (Maryland)\, and Matthew Leifer (Chapman)\, who will present their views on Professor Bub’s interpretation. In addition to the special session\, the workshop will include other sessions dedicated to further topics related to information theoretic interpretations of quantum mechanics. \nThe workshop will be preceded by a graduate student conference\, the 16th Annual Philosophy of Logic\, Math and Physics (LMP) Graduate Student Conference. Information about past conferences can be found here. \nCONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS\n\n\nJeffrey Bub (University of Maryland\, Philosophy\, IPST\, QuICS)\nGilles Brassard (Université de Montréal\, Computer Science)\nArmond Duwell (University of Montana\, Philosophy)\nLaura Felline (Roma Tre University\, Philosophy)\nMarissa Giustina (University of Vienna\, Physics)\nLucien Hardy (Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics)\nRichard Healey (University of Arizona\, Philosophy)\nLeah Henderson (University of Groningen\, Philosophy)\nMatthew Leifer (Chapman University\, Physics)\nMatthew Pusey (Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics)\nRüdiger Schack (Royal Holloway University of London\, Mathematics)\nRobert Spekkens (Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics)\nAllen Stairs (University of Maryland\, Philosophy)\n\nCONFERENCE ORGANIZERS\n\n\nWayne Myrvold (Western University\, Philosophy)\nMarkus Müller (Western University\, Philosophy and Applied Mathematics & Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics)\nLucas Dunlap (Western University\, Rotman Institute of Philosophy)\nMichael Cuffaro (Western University\, Rotman Institute of Philosophy & LMU Munich\, Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy)\n\nEVENT VIDEOS\n\n \nPARKING\, ACCOMMODATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION\n\nOn-campus Parking: The most convenient free lot on campus is Medway. It is about a 5 minute walk to the conference location. There is also a paid lot on Perth drive called Middlesex. Maps and further details are available on the conference website. \nFor those who require accommodations in London\, we recommend… \n\nEach Summer\, one of the Western campus dorms acts as something like a B&B. Starting at $65/night\, it is an inexpensive alternative to a hotel. Reservations can be made online.\nGuest House on the Mount is another low-priced option (rates starting at $39/night)\, and is located next to Western’s Campus.\n\nOther nearby hotels include: \n\nWindermere Manor\nStationPark All Suite Hotel\nHoliday Inn Express: London Downtown\nHilton London Ontario\nResidence Inn London Downtown\n\nIndividuals travelling to London may choose to fly directly into the London airport (YXU)\, or instead fly into either Toronto or Detroit\, MI. An airpot shuttle service\, Robert Q\, offers transportation from London to these other nearby airports. \nCONFERENCE FUNDING\n\nThis research was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.  \n \nInformation-Theoretic Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics is co-sponsored by the Rotman Institute of Philosophy\, the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics\, the Institute for Quantum Computing at University of Waterloo\, and Research Western.
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/information-theoretic-interpretations-quantum-mechanics-2016-annual-philosophy-physics-conference/
LOCATION:Room 114 – North Campus Building\, 2004 Perth Drive\, London\, Ontario\, N6G\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Conference,Other Conferences,Philosophy of Physics
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20160518
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20160522
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20170817T190710Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181017T162219Z
UID:18070-1463601600-1463860799@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:2016 PhilMiLCog Graduate Student Conference
DESCRIPTION:PhilMiLCog is a three-day graduate conference with a broad and interdisciplinary scope.  The conference\, now in its 14th year\, is recognized as one of the top philosophy graduate conferences in North America\, synthesizing research from the Philosophy of Mind\, Language\, and Cognitive science\, including psychology\, linguistics\, evolution\, and computer science. PhilMiLCog provides an opportunity for graduate students with common interests from various departments in North America and Europe to come together and participate in lively scholarly research with leading experts in their field. \nTo view the conference program and information on accommodations\, please visit the PhilMiLCog website. \n2016 Keynote Speakers: \nMazviita Chirimuuta (Philosophy\, University of Pittsburgh)\nTim Bayne (Philosophy\, University of Western Ontario)\nJessica Grahn (Psychology\, University of Western Ontario) \nPast Speakers: \n2015: Kristin Andrews & Genoveva Marti\n2014: Berit Brogaard & Angela Mendelovici\n2013: Edouard Machery & Jacqueline Sullivan\n2012: Kathleen Akins & Brie Gertler\n2011: William Lycan & Susan Schneider\n2010: Fred Adams & Richard Samuels\n2009: Jesse Prinz & John Nicholas\n2008: Reinaldo Elugardo & Peter Ludlow\n2007: Dorit Bar-On & Keith Simmons\n2006: Michael Devitt & Ned Block\n2005: Peter Carruthers & Robert Stainton\n2004: Ernest Lepore & Chris Viger\n2003: David Rosenthal
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/2016-philmilcog-graduate-student-conference/
LOCATION:ON
CATEGORIES:Conference,Graduate Student Events,Philosophy of Mind & Neuroscience
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20160511
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20160516
DTSTAMP:20260404T091338
CREATED:20170817T191010Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181017T162225Z
UID:18072-1462996800-1463342399@www.rotman.uwo.ca
SUMMARY:Computationally Assisted Mathematical Discovery and Experimental Mathematics: ACMES 2
DESCRIPTION:CONFERENCE DESCRIPTION\n\nComputational Discovery\, also called Experimental Mathematics\, is the use of symbolic and numerical computation to discover patterns\, to identify particular numbers and sequences\, and to gather evidence in support of specific mathematical assertions that may themselves arise by computational means. In recent decades\, computer-assisted mathematical discovery has profoundly transformed the strategies used to expand mathematical knowledge. In addition to symbolic and numerical computation\, a new trend that shows tremendous potential is the use of novel visualization techniques. The current situation was well summarized by a recent ICMI study: “The latest developments in computer and video technology have provided a multiplicity of computational and symbolic tools that have rejuvenated mathematics and mathematics education. Two important examples of this revitalization are experimental mathematics and visual theorems.” \nACMES will be held at Western University in London\, ON\, Canada from May 12-15\, 2016. Graduate students are particularly encouraged to contribute and attend. \nA copy of the conference poster is available here. \nPlease check the conference website for registration\, conference program\, information on additional events and accommodations. \nINVITED SPEAKERS\n\n\n\nJonathan Borwein\nUniversity of Newcastle (CARMA Institute)\n\n\nNeil J. A. Sloane\nOEIS Foundation\, and Rutgers University (Dept. of Mathematics)\n\n\nErnest Davis\nNew York University	(Dept. of Computer Science)\n\n\nPatrick Fowler\nSheffield University (Dept. of Chemistry)\n\n\nDavid Stoutemeyer\nUniversity of Hawaii (Dept. of Information and Computer Science)\n\n\nLila Kari\nUniversity of Waterloo (Dept. of Computer Science)\n\n\nJim Brown\nUniversity of Toronto (Dept. of Philosophy)\n\n\nDavid H. Bailey\nUniversity of California\, Davis (Lawrence Berkeley National Lab.)\n\n\nAnn Johnson\nCornell University (Dept. of Science and Technology Studies)\n\n\nKey Participant:    Yuri V. Matiyasevich (Russian Academy of Sciences\,	St. Petersburg Department of Steklov Institute of Mathematics) \nView abstracts on the conference website. \nCONFERENCE VIDEOS\n\nThe ACMES 2 video playlist now includes talks from the first two days of the conference. Remaining videos from the conference will be available soon. \n[embedyt]https://youtu.be/o7CiTcUWJ28?list=PLkMaaEPd7InL_hWKXk_uBWJ675V0t5Jno[/embedyt]\n \nPROGRAM COMMITTEE\n\n\nJonathan Borwein\, Newcastle (Mathematics)\nRob Corless\, Western (Applied Mathematics)\nNicolas Fillion\, SFU (Philosophy)\nDavid Jeffrey\, Western (Applied Mathematics)\nIlias Kotsireas\, WLU (Computer Science)\nChris Smeenk\, Western (Philosophy)
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/computationally-assisted-mathematical-discovery-experimental-mathematics-acmes-2/
LOCATION:ON
CATEGORIES:Conference,Other Conferences
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END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR