261019 Masterclass Philosophy with Hasok Chang (S) (SoSe 2016)

Bielefeld University, May 23 - 25, 2016

In five lectures Hasok Chang will discuss the benefits of a renewal of pragmatist philosophy in relation to science, drawing particularly on the work of John Dewey and Clarence Irving Lewis. Pluralism is one important consequence of a pragmatist understanding on the actual achievements of science, which are multifarious and achieved by various methods. A pragmatist and pluralist outlook will introduce significant changes to our views on realism, reductionism, theory-choice, natural kinds, and many other issues in the philosophy of science.

There is no fee, but please get registered for participation by May 16 with Eike Inga Schilling

Questions may be directed to Martin Carrier

Lecture 1. Epistemic pluralism in science (May 23, 10 - 12 h)
Lecture 2. Pragmatism in epistemology (May 23, 14 - 16 h)
Lecture 3. Coherence, truth and reality (May 24, 10 - 12 h)
General lecture: How does a battery work? The nature and growth of technoscientific knowledge (May 24, 16 - 18 h)
Lecture 4. The human origins of metaphysical notions (May 25, 10 - 12 )
Lecture 5. A renewal of the philosophy of science (May 25, 14 - 16 h)

http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/philosophie/ereignisse/meisterklasse/2016-Hasok-Chang/index.html

Preparatory meetings (U2-200)

Tue, April 26, 16 – 18 h, Hasok Chang, Chapter 5 of Is Water H2O? Evidence, Realism and Pluralism (Dordrecht: Springer, 2012).

Tue, May 17, 16 – 18 h, Hasok Chang, “Epistemic Activities and Systems of Practice: Units of Analysis in Philosophy of Science After the Practice Turn”, in Léna Soler, Sjoerd Zwart, Michael Lynch and Vincent Israel-Jost, eds., Science After the Practice Turn in the Philosophy, History and Social Studies of Science (London and Abingdon: Routledge, 2014), 67–79.

Kick-off meeting: Tue, April 12, 16 h (U2-200)

Credits points can be earned by taking part in the Masterclass and the two preparatory meetings. In addition, an advanced essay needs to be written on the topic.