STEP - Science and Technology in the European Periphery

We invite submission of abstracts for the following workshop; the deadline for submission is *May 15*.

*The relation(s) between physics and metaphysics in the nineteenth century
Ghent, Belgium, 10-12 August 2011**
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This workshop calls attention to the intricate relationship between physics and metaphysics in the nineteenth century. During this century, after science had made impressive progress, many scientists came to adopt a disdainful attitude towards metaphysics and philosophy in general. They thought that science could well do without it and that metaphysical ideas could even be a hindrance to scientific practice. Through positivist epistemology, for example, science aspired to become independent from
philosophy. The workshop explores the complex relation(s) between physics and metaphysics during the long nineteenth century. Topics may include, among others: materialism and dualism; free will; the use of unobservable entities in physics; the boundaries of physical knowledge.

Keynote speaker: Jordi Cat (Indiana University)

Website: http://www.philosophy.ugent.be/physics

Abstracts (no more than 500 words) can be sent to Marij van Strien,
marijvanstrien@gmail.com, questions can be directed to the same address.

This workshop is made possible by a grant from FWO.