Instead of writing and working on Einstein and his relation to philosophy, I have narrowed it to Einstein and his relation to philosophy of science. Part of it is significantly historical. For instance, one can look Einstein's connections to logical positivism/ logical empiricism. One can situate the classic problems of philosophy of science in terms of the issues raised by Einstein's theory of relativity (special or general). Or one might ask further of Einstein whether he was a verificationist, a conventionalist or a realist (none of the above?). I don't think it too problematic to say that "philosophy of science" is also just shorthand for "history and philosophy of science."
The other part is that there is much to learn from the study of philosophy of science for the layperson. If this claim is correct, then the implication there is that at the very least one can learn something from philosophy! Hehe :) What is there to learn from philosophy of science for the layperson? Well that would be another topic for another day.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Albert Einstein: The Scientist as Activist at De La Salle University Manila 20 March 2015
On the 20th of March, I will be one of 3 speakers on Albert Einstein. I will be talking about Einstein's relationship to philosophy of science (as contrasted to recent physicists like Hawking and deGrasse Tyson). Hawking's pronouncement is that philosophy is dead. DeGrasse Tyson claims that philosophy is distracting. Never mind if they both have, and are probably still making, philosophical comments and recommendations (i.e. with some of the classic issues/problems in philosophy). It is a different question, however, if their comments and recommendations that recall philosophy are any good.
It is true that many intellectuals, philosophers included, have neglected the advancements and contributions in/from science. But it would appear the a similar charge may be given to Hawking and deGrasse Tyson regarding the developments in philosophy of science. Yes they can really be quite different. Still Einstein was not averse to them.
Enough rambling for the moment :) This particular series of lectures is also for Project Einstein 2015
Something to read and refer to :)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/8520033/Stephen-Hawking-tells-Google-philosophy-is-dead.
https://philosophynow.org/issues/82/Hawking_contra_Philosophy
http://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2014/05/22/why_does_neil_degrasse_tyson_hate_philosophy.html
It is true that many intellectuals, philosophers included, have neglected the advancements and contributions in/from science. But it would appear the a similar charge may be given to Hawking and deGrasse Tyson regarding the developments in philosophy of science. Yes they can really be quite different. Still Einstein was not averse to them.
Enough rambling for the moment :) This particular series of lectures is also for Project Einstein 2015
Something to read and refer to :)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/8520033/Stephen-Hawking-tells-Google-philosophy-is-dead.
https://philosophynow.org/issues/82/Hawking_contra_Philosophy
http://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2014/05/22/why_does_neil_degrasse_tyson_hate_philosophy.html
Congress of Logic, Methodology and Philosophy of Science 2015
More than a month ago, I received the notification of acceptance for CLMPS 2015. I will be fixing a number of things before I can really go there. From their page (http://clmps.helsinki.fi/history.php):
Starting from 1960 the International Congress of Logic, Methodology and Philosophy of Science has been held every four years in capital cities and/or by famous university centres.
- 1960 Stanford, California, USA
- 1964 Jerusalem, Israel
- 1967 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- 1971 Bucharest, Romania
- 1975 London, Ontario, Canada
- 1979 Hanover, Federal Republic of Germany
- 1983 Salzburg, Austria
- 1987 Moscow, USSR
- 1991 Uppsala, Sweden
- 1995 Florence, Italy
- 1999 Krakow, Poland
- 2003 Oviedo, Spain
- 2007 Beijing, China
- 2011, Nancy France
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Call for Papers: Project Einstein 2015 at De La Salle University Manila and DLSU Science and Technology Complex
Project Einstein 2015
https://www.facebook.com/DLSUEinstein2015
http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/conferences/project-einstein/
Submission of Papers, Performance, and Artworks:
December 15, 2014 to March 15, 2015
Project Einstein 2015
Date: September 29 to October 1, 2015
Theme: The Centennial of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity
We invite the academic community, our partners and research collaborators to submit papers, performance, and artworks related to the following research themes:
1. Physics: Einstein’s works, their use and influence in theories developed later in the field
2.Literature: Einstein’s love for fairy tales and children’s literature, literary genres influenced by or connected to Einstein’s works
3.Philosophy: Philosophy of Science, Religion, Politics that relate to Einstein’s life and works, Comparative studies in science and mysticism
4.Mathematics: Relationships between Mathematics and Einstein’s work in Physics, influences of Mathematics on Einstein’s work
5.Religion: Einstein’s religious views, philosophical discussions on pantheism and atheism, intersections between religion and science
6.Music: Issues in composition, performance, etc., related to Einstein’s works and his love for playing the violin
7.Education: Pedagogical issues spurred by Einstein’s works and view on life and intelligence
8.Psychology: issues in the making of geniuses, including struggles with learning disabilities
9.Politics: Einstein’s view on politics, his private thoughts and publicized positions.
10.Holocaust: Einstein’s stand on the Holocaust, other scientists who lived through or were victims of the Holocaust, and related issues
11.Art: Science and Math based Art and Art works addressing Holocaust/genocide themes
12. Einstein for non-scientists: Issues related to the translation of Einstein’s technical works for non-scientists
13. Gender Studies: Involvement of different genders in the disciplines of science, philosophy and art.
Submitted papers, performances, artworks will undergo a review process and once accepted it will be presented during the scheduled sessions of the conference.
Submission of Abstracts and Full Papers
Important dates:
o Abstract Submission: Opening Date: December 15, 2014
Closing Date: March 15, 2015
o Notification: December 19, 2014 – January 10, 2015
o Submission of Abstract with Full Paper: April 15, 2015
o Research Congress: September 29 to October 1, 2015
https://www.facebook.com/DLSUEinstein2015
http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/conferences/project-einstein/
Submission of Papers, Performance, and Artworks:
December 15, 2014 to March 15, 2015
Project Einstein 2015
Date: September 29 to October 1, 2015
Theme: The Centennial of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity
We invite the academic community, our partners and research collaborators to submit papers, performance, and artworks related to the following research themes:
1. Physics: Einstein’s works, their use and influence in theories developed later in the field
2.Literature: Einstein’s love for fairy tales and children’s literature, literary genres influenced by or connected to Einstein’s works
3.Philosophy: Philosophy of Science, Religion, Politics that relate to Einstein’s life and works, Comparative studies in science and mysticism
4.Mathematics: Relationships between Mathematics and Einstein’s work in Physics, influences of Mathematics on Einstein’s work
5.Religion: Einstein’s religious views, philosophical discussions on pantheism and atheism, intersections between religion and science
6.Music: Issues in composition, performance, etc., related to Einstein’s works and his love for playing the violin
7.Education: Pedagogical issues spurred by Einstein’s works and view on life and intelligence
8.Psychology: issues in the making of geniuses, including struggles with learning disabilities
9.Politics: Einstein’s view on politics, his private thoughts and publicized positions.
10.Holocaust: Einstein’s stand on the Holocaust, other scientists who lived through or were victims of the Holocaust, and related issues
11.Art: Science and Math based Art and Art works addressing Holocaust/genocide themes
12. Einstein for non-scientists: Issues related to the translation of Einstein’s technical works for non-scientists
13. Gender Studies: Involvement of different genders in the disciplines of science, philosophy and art.
Submitted papers, performances, artworks will undergo a review process and once accepted it will be presented during the scheduled sessions of the conference.
Submission of Abstracts and Full Papers
Important dates:
o Abstract Submission: Opening Date: December 15, 2014
Closing Date: March 15, 2015
o Notification: December 19, 2014 – January 10, 2015
o Submission of Abstract with Full Paper: April 15, 2015
o Research Congress: September 29 to October 1, 2015
Monday, June 9, 2014
Hilary Putnam is now on Blogger
I guess this means I'll be here more often too hehehe... Looking at what Hilary Putnam has to say. Especially with the plans for the centenary of Einstein's theory of general relativity (in 2015).
At the moment I am handling more than 4 courses this trimester. Later I will handle 4 courses in one day! Onward ever onward!
At the moment I am handling more than 4 courses this trimester. Later I will handle 4 courses in one day! Onward ever onward!
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Leiter linked this to his blog: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/mar/13/martin-heidegger-black-notebooks-reveal-nazi-ideology-antisemitism
"The philosopher's sympathies for the Nazi regime have been well documented in the past: Heidegger joined the party in 1933 and remained a member until the end of the second world war. But antisemitic ideas were previously thought to have tainted his character rather than touched the core of his philosophy – not least by Jewish thinkers such as Hannah Arendt or Jacques Derrida, who cited their debt to Heidegger.
This week's publication of the "black notebooks" (a kind of philosophical diary that Heidegger asked to be held back until the end of his complete work), challenges this view. In France the revelations have been debated vigorously since passages were leaked to the media last December, with some Heidegger scholars even trying to stop the notebooks' publication."
Now will wait for what sorts of discussion this will have.
"The philosopher's sympathies for the Nazi regime have been well documented in the past: Heidegger joined the party in 1933 and remained a member until the end of the second world war. But antisemitic ideas were previously thought to have tainted his character rather than touched the core of his philosophy – not least by Jewish thinkers such as Hannah Arendt or Jacques Derrida, who cited their debt to Heidegger.
This week's publication of the "black notebooks" (a kind of philosophical diary that Heidegger asked to be held back until the end of his complete work), challenges this view. In France the revelations have been debated vigorously since passages were leaked to the media last December, with some Heidegger scholars even trying to stop the notebooks' publication."
Now will wait for what sorts of discussion this will have.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Another Philosophy and Science video
"This is our mini web series, Philosophy and Science. In this series, we, students of Philosophy of De La Salle University - Manila, will talk about the effect of Science on the different issues in Philosophy.
In this episode of P&S, Mr. Laurel and Mr. Medina talk about God and the Problem of Evil."
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