[PhilPhys] Schedule of the Semester's remaining presentations at The Center for Philosophy of Science

[Center for Phil Sci]

The Center for Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh
invites you to join us for our upcoming Talks on our live stream on YouTube
at *https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRp47ZMXD7NXO3a9Gyh2sg
<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRp47ZMXD7NXO3a9Gyh2sg>*.

The upcoming talks are presented by The Center for Philosophy of Science's
Visiting Fellows, Andrea Roselli and Mahdi Khalili. Please take a moment
and view their 5 min. videos. We will also have talks by Former Fellows,
Samuel Fletcher and Clark Glymour. If you would like information about
Fellowships for the 2026-2027 academic year, please see the bottom of this
notice.

*Lunch Time Talk - **Andrea Roselli  *
Andrea's 5 Min. Video:  *https://youtu.be/bh2Gw0UA2Xg
<https://youtu.be/bh2Gw0UA2Xg>*
*Tuesday, March 25 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EDT*
Recording available on YouTube:
*https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRp47ZMXD7NXO3a9Gyh2sg
<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRp47ZMXD7NXO3a9Gyh2sg>*.

*Title: Emergent beasts and where to find them*
*Abstract: *Emergents are elusive beasts. The hunt has been going on for
years, but despite the many ingenious tactics employed, they keep slipping
through our metaphysical nets. In this paper, I propose a way to finally
catch them. My strategy is the following: first, unlike many dualist
frameworks that distinguish weak from strong emergence, I contend that
either emergence entails ontological novelty or it is not emergence at all
– understanding emergence requires us to reconsider how new properties,
behaviors, and laws manifest without being reducible to pre-existing
elements; then, I will propose a thought experiment based on Conway’s game
of life to get an immediate intuitive grasp of the emergent beasts we are
after; finally, I will explore various metaphysical implications of such
emergent properties, the relationship between emergence and causation, and
the broader ramifications for fields such as physics, biology, and
cognitive science. Through this exploration, I aim to clarify the criteria
necessary for identifying true emergent phenomena and provide a robust
framework for understanding their place in the ontological structure of the
universe.


*Lunch Time Talk - **Mahdi Khalili*
Mahdi's 5 Minute Video: *https://youtu.be/krZMpqW-CC8
<https://youtu.be/krZMpqW-CC8>*
*Friday, March 28 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EDT*
Attend in person at 1117 Cathedral of Learning at the University of
Pittsburgh or use the following Zoom link to join online:
*https://pitt.zoom.us/j/97141615142
<https://pitt.zoom.us/j/97141615142>*

*Title:  Ramsey meets Ptolemy: Theory change, realism, and perspectivism*

*Abstract*: According to the Ramsey-sentence approach to scientific
theories, a scientific theory or model can be formulated as an existential
sentence called a Ramsey-sentence. In this talk, I apply this approach to
theory change in the history of science, arguing that the truthful content
of past theories can be restated from the perspective of later ones,
thereby accounting for their empirical successes.

I begin by reviewing the use of Ramsey-sentences in the works of Rudolf
Carnap, structural realists and David Papineau before introducing my own
application of the approach. I then use it to explain the success of the
Ptolemaic model in predicting the positions of the outer planets. Finally,
I draw broader lessons about theory change, offering a realist yet
perspectivist interpretation.




*Featured Former Fellow - Samuel Fletcher *
*Tuesday, April 1st @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EDT*

*Online Only **-  *Zoom – https://pitt.zoom.us/j/95178246353
<https://pitt.zoom.us/j/95178246353>
Title: Quantum Biology

*Abstract:* The transdisciplinary field of quantum biology applies models
and concepts from quantum mechanics to explain biological phenomena. After
a nontechnical review of some key topics in this field where
these quantum theoretical resources are deemed indispensable, I address the
question of what, exactly, makes them so. I then draw implications for
scientific explanation and the relations between disciplines and levels of
reality, among other things.



*Lunch Time Talk - **Clark Glymour*


*Tuesday, April 8th @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EDT*

Attend in person at 1117 Cathedral of Learning or use the Zoom link to join
online: https://pitt.zoom.us/j/94045293838

Title: Hans Reichenbach, *The* *Direction of Time*, Conjunctive Forks, The
Principle of the Common Cause, and Maybe Some More

Abstract: I will talk about Reichenbach’s posthumous book, *The Direction
of Time*. My story is a little personal because the book changed my life, I
think for the better. Focusing on his “macroscopic definition” of the
direction of time, I will explain why that part of *The Direction of Time* is
a brilliant disaster that attempted to formulate principles connecting
probability with causality. I will describe some ways in which I think what
he wrote has been widely misunderstood, including the distinction between
“contexts of discovery” and “contexts of justification.” Most importantly,
I will describe the tension he recognized–but his commentators have
not–between “the Principle of the Common Cause” and “conjunctive forks,”
and his rather desperate attempt to resolve that difficulty


*Information about 2026 - 2027 Fellowships*
 If you would like information about our Fellowships please visit our
websites. Applications will open late Fall.

*Postdoctoral Fellowships: *
https://www.centerphilsci.pitt.edu/programs/postdoc-fellowships/program-overview/

*Visiting Fellows Program:*
https://www.centerphilsci.pitt.edu/programs/visiting-fellows/program-overview/

The 2026 - 2027 Fellows will join *Senior Visiting Fellow, **Nick Huggett*
 - *Huggett, Nick | Philosophy | University of Illinois Chicago
<https://phil.uic.edu/profiles/huggett-nick/>*
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