***************************************************************
PSA Newsletter: Volume 12 : Number 1: February 2006
***************************************************************
Edited for the Philosophy of Science Association by
Malcolm Forster, http://philosophy.wisc.edu/forster
***************************************************************
IN THIS ISSUE:
1. PSA Election Results.
2. POSTDOC in philosophy of biology, Center for Philosophy and Ethics of Science
(ZEWW),
University of Hannover, Germany.
Application deadline: March 1, 2006.
http://www.unics.uni-hannover.de/zeww/index.eng.html
3. LAKATOS Research FELLOWSHIPS at LSE. Deadline: March 1, 2006.
4. CALL for PAPERS: Models and Simulations Conference, Paris, 12-13 June 2006.
Deadline, March 15, 2006.
5. JOB: Department of Philosophy, the University of Duesseldorf, Germany.
Deadline: Feb. 20, 2006.
6. CALL for PAPERS: Ashgate Companion to Contemporary Philosophy of Biology.
Deadline: May 15, 2006.
7. HPSM LISTSERV: Covering the History and Philosophy of Science in the
Northeast of
England.
8. 2006 SUMMER SYMPOSIUM of the International Society for the Philosophy of
Chemistry
(ISPC 10), Split, Croatia, August 6
- 10, 2006. Registration deadline: June 1, 2006.
9. PSA: The Essay Contest deadline has been extended until 20 Feb 2006. Please
check the
website for further details.
http://journal.philsci.org/essayPrize.php
10. ANNOUNCEMENT: Visiting Fellows Program, Center for Philosophy of Science,
University of
Pittsburgh. While the usual deadline has passed, the Center is still accepting
applications for
visiting fellowships for Sept. 2006 and January 2007 and encourages qualified
scholars to apply. For
details see:
http://www.pitt.edu/~pittcntr/vfinfo
***************************************************************
PSA LINKS:
PSA 2006: http://philsci.org/PSA06/
PSA website: http://philsci.org/
Philosophy of Science journal:
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/PHILSCI/home.html
PhilSci Archives:
http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/
***************************************************************
FURTHER DETAILS:
***************************************************************
1. PSA Election Results:
On the Governing Board, we have:
Craig Callender, Alan Hajek, Laura Ruetsche, Kenneth Schaffner (incumbant).
And on the Nominating Committee we have:
Malcolm Forster, Roberta Millstein, Miriam Solomon.
Ellery Eells, Noretta Koertge, Mary Morgan, Ken Schaffner, and Wolfgang Spohn
are the returning board members. Elliott Sober is Past-president, Brian Skyrms
is President, and Larry Sklar is President-to-be.
***************************************************************
2. POSTDOC in philosophy of biology, Center for Philosophy and Ethics of Science
(ZEWW), University of Hannover, Germany. Deadline: March 1, 2006.
The Center for Philosophy and Ethics of Science (ZEWW), University of Hannover,
Germany, invites applications for a 1-year postdoctoral position in philosophy
of biology.
The position may be filled on May 1st, 2006, or later. The salary will be at the
level of a German research assistant ('wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter', BAT IIa).
The principal task of the postdoc, next to teaching on a topic of his/her own
interest within the philosophy of biology, will be to formulate a research
proposal that is to be submitted to a research founding organization.
Continuation of the position will be dependent on this proposal. The successful
applicant will have a formal education in both biology (or another natural
science) and philosophy, e.g., a Bachelor's or Master's degree in one of these
fields and a Ph.D. in the other. We would also consider an exceptional graduate
student who is in the process of completing a doctoral dissertation.
The University of Hannover is an equal opportunity / affirmative action
employer.
Applications should include a CV, list of publications, one sample of written
work and a short description of the planned research project (no more than 2
pages). Applications should be sent to
hoyningen@ww.uni-hannover.de (with a copy to reydon@ww.uni-hannover.de)
or in written form to: Prof. Paul Hoyningen-Huene, Universität Hannover, ZEWW,
Im Moore 21, D-30167 Hannover, Germany.
Deadline for applications is March 1st, 2006. For further information about the
available position, please contact Dr. Thomas Reydon (reydon@ww.uni-hannover.de,
telephone +49 511 762 19391). More information about the Center for Philosophy
and Ethics of Science can be found at the center's homepage: http://www.unics.uni-hannover.de/zeww/index.eng.html.
***************************************************************
3. LAKATOS Research Fellowships at LSE. Deadline: March 1, 2006.
Lakatos Research Fellowships
at CPNSS@LSE
An extensive archive of Imre Lakatos's papers and letters - some in Hungarian,
most in English - is held in the Library at the London
School of Economics. Due to the generosity of an anonymous
donor, Research Fellowships to a total amount of US$ 12,000 will be
available in the calendar year 2006 for scholars
wishing to pursue some research project on Lakatos and/or his contemporaries
requiring consultation of the archive. The Fellowships will be held at
LSE's Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science (http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/CPNSS/),
which will also provide facilities for the Fellows.
The awards will aim to cover the recipients' travel
and a stipend of 250£/week for junior scholars (PhD students) and 500£/week for
senior scholars for other expenses during his or her
stay in London. The length of the stay should be between
a week and two months.
To apply please send a covering letter (specifying when you plan to visit and an
estimate of how long you would need to spend in London), a CV and a 500 words
project description to Dr Stephan Hartmann, Director, Centre for Philosophy of
Natural and Social Science, London School of Economics, London WC2A 2AE, UK.
Applications by email to philcent@lse.ac.uk (subject: Lakatos Research
Fellowship) are also welcome. The deadline for applications is March
1, 2006. Junior scholars and young faculty are especially encouraged to
apply.
***************************************************************
4. CALL for PAPERS: Models and Simulations Conference, Paris, 12-13 June 2006.
Deadline, March 15, 2006.
MODELS AND SIMULATIONS
Two-day conference in Paris, 12-13 June 2006
http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/CPNSS/events/Conferences/Simulations/
Keynote Speakers: Robert Batterman (Western Ontario) and Paul Humphreys
(University of Virginia)
Organizers: Roman Frigg (LSE), Stephan Hartmann (LSE), and Cyrille Imbert (IHPST/Paris
I)
Programme Committee: Robert Batterman (Western Ontario), Jacques Dubucs (IHPST/CNRS),
Roman Frigg (LSE), Stephan Hartmann (LSE), Paul Humphreys (University of
Virginia), Cyrille Imbert (IHPST/Paris I), and Eric Winsberg (University of
South Florida)
Publication: Revised versions of selected papers will be published in a special
issue of Synthese. The deadline for submission of the final version of the paper
is 1 September 2006.
The conference is generously supported by the CNRS and IHPST, Paris. The
conference language is English.
Outline and Research Questions:
Computer simulations play a crucial role in many sciences, but they have not yet
received the attention they deserve from philosophers of science. This
conference attempts to systematically explore methodological issues in
connection with computer simulations and the implications of these for
traditional questions in the philosophy of science. Special emphasis is put on
the relation between models and simulations as well as on the role of computers
in the practice of science.
The papers presented at the conference will address, among others, the following
questions:
1. What difference does the essentially dynamic nature of simulations make to
modeling, particularly in their representational abilities?
2. Is there a difference between simulations that have an explicit model or
theory behind them and those that do not?
3. When there is no model, what form does the representational connection
between the simulation and the world take?
4. Can any sense be made of claims that the world itself is carrying out
computations and simulating itself?
5. What role does intentionality play in simulations or such apparently
automatic representational processes as genetic algorithms?
6. Are there principles that one can use to decide whether a simulation is to be
interpreted realistically or only instrumentally?
7. At what level (e.g. the machine code, the algorithmic, the scientific
language) does a simulation represent a system?
8. It is well-known hat models enter into different relationships such as
isomorphism, embedding, or being a submodel of. Are there analogous relations
between simulations?
9. What would qualify as an equivalence relation between simulations?
10. What is the relation between simulations used as an experimental tool and
real experiments?
11. How does the methodology of simulations compare with experimentation?
12. How, if at all, do models and simulations explain?
13. What are the implications of the growing use of simulations in science for
our understanding of science?
14. What are the implications of the repeated use of the same models and
simulations within different fields of science?
15. How reliable are the results of simulations, and how is the reliability of a
simulation determined?
16. What role does mathematics play in simulations?
17. Is there a difference between the use of simulations across different fields
such as physics, biology, and the social sciences?
18. Is there a difference between the use of simulations in fundamental science
and in applied science?
SUBMISSION OF PAPERS:
Please send extended abstracts of 1000 words to simulations2006@yahoo.co.uk by
15 March 2006. Decisions will be made by 1 April. A few travel bursaries for
graduate students are available; if you wish to be considered please submit a
short (tentative) travel budget and a CV together with your paper. There will
also be a Best Graduate Paper Award of 500 EUROS. For details, visit the
conference website.
Although the conference has a philosophical orientation, contributions by
historians and sociologists of science are welcome too. We particularly
encourage working scientists to submit papers.
***************************************************************
5. JOB: Department of Philosophy at the University of Duesseldorf, Germany.
Deadline: Feb. 20, 2006.
Half-time assistant position at the Department of Philosophy at the University
of Duesseldorf, Germany beginning April 2006 or later. The position is limited
to two years, but has the possibility of extension to further years and to full
time later on. The candidate should be in a dissertation state or in a post-doc
state, should be specialized in philosophy of science and should be competent in
logic (programming skills are also desired). German language competence is
required; a non-German speaker has to learn German within his or her first year.
Applications (including a CV, publication list and certificates) should be sent
to:
Professor Dr. Gerhard Schurz, Chair of Theoretical Philosophy,
Department of Philosophy, University of Duesseldorf,
Universitaetsstrasse 1, Gebaeude 23.21, D-40225 Duesseldorf. Germany.
For more information contact:
E-Mail: gerhard.schurz@phil-fak.uni-duesseldorf.de.
Phone: +49 - 211) 811-5763
Homepage: www.phil-fak.uni-duesseldorf.de/thphil
Messages to the list are archived at
http://listserv.liv.ac.uk/archives/philos-l.html.
Prolonged discussions should be moved to chora: enrol via
http://listserv.liv.ac.uk/archives/chora.html.
Other philosophical resources on the Web can be found at
http://www.liv.ac.uk/pal.
***************************************************************
6. CALL FOR PAPERS: Ashgate Companion to Contemporary Philosophy of Biology.
Deadline: May 15, 2006.
Editors:
George Terzis, Department of Philosophy, Saint Louis University, 3800 Lindell
Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108. (314) 977-3163. terzisgn@slu.edu
Robert Arp, Department of Philosophy, Southwest Minnesota State University, 1501
State Street, Marshall, MN 56258. (507) 532-7281. arpr@southwestmsu.edu
Call for Papers. We have been asked by Ashgate Publishing to edit their Ashgate
Companion to Contemporary Philosophy of Biology. Our approach to this project
will emphasize the importance of information-theoretic considerations as well as
more familiar philosophical and scientific ones. Our rationale for this approach
is that, although central to the biological sciences, the idea of information
has received little attention from philosophers of biology. To address this
omission, we seek papers on topics that employ this approach to advance
understanding of topic-related philosophical problems and controversies.
Although we have included a broad list of possible topics (see below), we are
willing to consider others provided that they also reflect the collection¹s
overall approach. Interested authors should include an abstract of the paper
they propose for the collection (not to exceed 500 words), together with a copy
of their cv. Abstracts should be submitted by May 15, 2006, and authors whose
contributions are accepted will be informed by June 15, 2006. The deadline for
accepted papers is February 1, 2007. Submit relevant materials to:
terzisgn@slu.edu; arpr@southwestmsu.edu.
Objectives of the Companion. Information pervades biological processes at all
levels of organization. Familiar examples of these processes include how
organisms utilize free energy, how DNA codes for protein synthesis, how genes
regulate morphological development, and even how ensembles of nerve cells
coordinate their activity in a way that enables some organisms to be
aware of their environment. But although pervasive, the contribution that
information-related ideas make to our understanding of these processes is not
yet well understood. Indeed, only recently have researchers begun to explore
their deeper theoretical significance. Of course, an understanding of these
processes also depends on a variety of more traditional biological and
non-biological scientific considerations. But the combining of these
considerations with information-related ones will almost certainly add greater
accuracy and depth to our grasp of such processes.
A similar point may be made about our understanding of the traditional
philosophical issues and controversies associated with the previously noted
biological processes. For example, since organisms use information to construct,
maintain, and replicate themselves, it would also seem natural to include
information-related ideas in our attempt to understand the general nature of
living systems, the causality by means of which they operate, their capacity to
generate prolific bio-diversity, whether or not they could exist and evolve in
non-biological matter, and how in some species they give rise to cognition and
emotion. But, again, philosophers of biology have only begun to include
information-related ideas in the repertoire of methodological considerations
they use to discuss these philosophical issues.
Our approach to this volume thus seeks to correct what we believe is a
long-standing neglect of those informational considerations relevant to an
understanding of both the scientific and philosophical significance of a variety
of basic biological processes. To be sure, the inclusion of these considerations
can only add to the controversies that already existed in their absence. For
example, how closely or remotely related to one another are the informational
ideas that are employed at different levels of biological organization? Second,
although the presence of informational ideas at these levels is undeniable,
their philosophical significance is another matter. Is that significance a
literal one, or is it more metaphorical and heuristic? Finally, in order to
defend a specific philosophical interpretation of these ideas, we require a more
general information-theoretic perspective. But is there one such perspective, or
are there different, competing ones? Although difficult questions, we feel that
any aversion toward answering them is overridden by the fact, now nearly
undeniable, that information is integral to our understanding of biological
phenomena. For this reason, these questions are as much in need of further
philosophical examination as are the more familiar ones.
Audience. The collection of papers represents a broad range of disciplines,
including anthropology, biology, chemistry, computer science, information
theory, paleontology, philosophy, physics, psychology, and systems theory. The
papers will be written to meet the needs of advanced undergraduate and graduate
students enrolled in philosophy of science, philosophy of biology, and
theoretical biology courses. The papers are also intended to enable interested
researchers to learn about the contribution that information makes to both the
biological sciences and philosophy of biology.
Organization of the Text. Section 1, which introduces readers to the nature and
methodology of philosophy of biology, incorporates not only traditional
scientific and philosophical considerations, but also information-theoretic
ones. Sections 2-7 then discuss a variety of increasingly complex biological
topics to which this methodology can be applied. For example, Section 2 begins
with the general idea of organisms as hierarchically organized systems that use
information to construct, maintain, and replicate themselves, while Sections 3
and 4 expand this idea to take into account the
evolutionary character of organisms in both natural and artificial environments.
Next, Sections 5 and 6 show that this idea can also be applied to psychological
concepts in humans and higher primates. Finally, a conclusion summarizes the
broader philosophical significance of the information-enhanced approach to the
biological topics presented in this text.
Table of Contents
Section Titles:
Editors¹ Introduction
1. Philosophy of Biology: Its Nature and Methodology
2. Organisms as Living Systems
3. Evolutionary Theory
4. Natural Versus Artificial Life
5. Cognition
6. Individual and Society
7. Conclusion
Editors¹ Introduction
George Terzis and Robert Arp
1. Philosophy of Biology: Its Nature and Methodology
1.1. Traditional Scientific and Philosophical Perspectives
1.2. Origin and Biological Relevance of Information-Theoretic Perspectives
2. Organisms as Living Systems
2.1. Living Versus Non-Living Systems
2.2. Energy Coupling
2.3. Genetic Programming
2.4. Cell Signaling
2.5. Biological Causality as Information Transfer
3. Evolutionary Theory
3.1. Evolution of the Prokaryotic Cell
3.2. Speciation
3.3. Genetic Switches
3.4. Camouflage, Mimicry, and Aggressive Forms of Communication
4. Natural Versus Artificial Life
4.1. The Definition of Life
4.2. Self-Organizing Systems
4.3. Cellular Automata and Virtual Environments
4.4. Does Biology Matter?
5. Cognition
5.1. The Nature of Bottom-Up and Top-Down Mental Causation
5.2. Disambiguating Visual Information
5.3. Perceptual Versus Abstract Visual Information
6. Individual and Society
6.1. The Biological Basis of Personality
6.2. Imitative Learning
6.3. Linguistic Communication
7. Conclusion
7.1. Unity and Diversity of Information-Related Ideas
7.2. Information and Hierarchical Organization
7.3. Future Research
***************************************************************
7. HPSM LISTSERV: Covering the History and Philosophy of Science in the
Northeast of
England.
The History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine (HPSM) Network was founded by
Durham University's Department of Philosophy in 1999. The purpose of the HPSM
listserv is to create a network for researchers with links to the north of
England who are interested in topics broadly relevant to the history and
philosophy of science and medicine (including bioarchaeology and palaeopathology).
This is accomplished by posting messages that advertise HPSM events (lecture
series, departmental seminars, individual papers, conferences, museum displays,
etc.), research (new lectureships, research projects, funding proposals, etc.)
and collections (material, archival, cyber, etc.). At present, the list has over
one hundred academic subscribers, as well students reading for an MA or PhD in
HPSM related subjects. The list includes staff members from the Centre for Life
(Newcastle) and the universities of Durham, Newcastle, Sunderland, Teesside,
York, Leeds, Manchester, Lancaster, Leicester and Warwick. However, there are
several independent scholars too. The listserv is moderated, but it is open to
anyone with a genuine interest in HPSM studies. To join, simply send an email to
Dr Matthew D Eddy (M.D.Eddy@durham.ac.uk).
***************************************************************
8. 2006 Summer Symposium of the International Society for the Philosophy of
Chemistry
(ISPC 10), Split, Croatia, August 6
- 10, 2006. Registration deadline: June 1, 2006.
Organizers: Hrvoj Vancik, Professor of Chemistry (Zagreb), Ante Graovac,
Professor of Chemistry (Split).
Department of Chemistry
Faculty of Science
University of Zagreb
Horvatovac 102 A
10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Phone +385 1 4819 280
Fax +385 1 4819 288
vancik@irb.hr
The Departments of Chemistry at University of Zagreb, and University of Split
invite you kindly to participate the ISPC 10 Symposium that will be organized in
Split, Croatia, from 6 till 10 August 2006.
Tentative schedule:
Sunday afternoon: Registration and opening reception.
Monday: Opening plenary session, contributed papers.
Tuesday: Plenary session, contributed papers.
Wednesday: Plenary session, contributed papers, conference Banquet.
Thursday: Closing session, executive committee meeting. Departure.
Sightseeing and social events include tours of the museums and galleries
(Archeology museum, Museum of old Croatian monuments, etc.) in Split, visits to
the old Roman center as well as boat excursion on the Adriatic.
Facilities: Symposium sessions will be held in the Student Center - Spinut - of
the University of Split. On the same place are also dormitories. Photographs of
this place are attached to this Invitation. Lecturing hall contains auditorium
with seating capacity ranging from 100 to 150. All the conventional audiovisual
equipment including computer projection is available. There is also coffee bar
and restaurant for refreshments.
Housing will be arranged in the University dormitories at Spinut campus (street
Sinjska 6) and at local hotels, which are within walking distance of campus.
Campus prices for single room is 150 Kn per person, double room 1s 130 Kn per
person (Note that 1 USD = 6 Kn, or 1EURO = 7.35 Kn). Inexpensive meals are
available in on-campus dining facilities. There is also a broad range of
restaurants within walking distance because Campus is very close to the center
of Split.
Location and Transportation: After Zagreb, Split is the largest city in Croatia.
It is located in the most attractive region of Croatia, in central Dalmatia on
the Adriatic coast. Transportation to Split is simple because there is
international airport. There are also many fast inter-city train connections
with Zagreb, and people coming by car can use the highway A-1, E-71 (nearly 400
km from Zagreb). Croatia Airlines flights daily on the line Zagreb - Split.
Another possibility is to use Dubrovnik international airport, which is 200
kilometers away from Split.
Registration fee: Following the tradition of the ISPC symposia, on the
Conference is only the voluntary registration fee of $20.
Publication of Symposium Papers: Several recent symposia have resulted in
published volumes. Every effort will be made to provide an appropriate venue for
publication of the papers presented at this symposium. A special issue of
Foundations of Chemistry is an excellent option, but others may appear as the
time approaches.
Registration: The completed registration form (vancik@irb.hr) and abstract (one
typewritten page) should be received by the organizer (Prof. H. Vancik) until
June 1, 2006. An abstract should be sent either in the form of MS Word Document
as an E-mail attachment or as a hard copy. The margins of 2.5 cm and Times New
Roman font (1.5 line spacing; size 12) are recommended.
***************************************************************
END OF PSA NEWSLETTER
***************************************************************
ENDNOTES:
-------------
A. The purpose of this newsletter
The PSA Newsletter is published electronically on an "as needed" basis by the
Philosophy of Science Association to disseminate information. The newsletter is
moderated and is restricted to information pertinent to members of the
Association (e.g., official business of the Association, information about
upcoming meetings or other information likely to be of interest to a broad range
of membership).
B. INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSIONS
Send information for possible inclusion in a future issue of the newsletter to
the editor (mforster@wisc.edu). It is best to send the information directly to
the editor well in advance of any deadline because publication dates are
unpredictable. Please include PSA somewhere in the subject line (so that the
message is automatically filed).
C. DIRECTIONS FOR SUBSCRIBING OR UNSUBSCRIBING
Send an email message to listserv@listserv.umkc.edu with your command as the
ONLY body text (leave the subject line blank).
To subscribe, type as the only body text:
subscribe psa
To be removed from this mailing list, please go to
<http://listserv.umkc.edu/listserv/wa.exe?SUBED1=PSA&A=1>
or send an email message to the address listserv@listserv.umkc.edu, with
the text SIGNOFF PSA in the body of the message.
Problems or questions should be directed to manager@listserv.umkc.edu.