mercredi 21 mai 2008

Perspective in Physics and Philosophy

Paris :: Carré des Sciences :: 16-19 June 2008

The main topics of the conference will be the role of internal and external perspectives, representations, frames of reference and contexts, in various related fields in physics and philosophy.

In particular, the conference will cover:

  • perspectival analysis of causality, flow of time and other time-directed concepts
  • role of the observer or of an agent in the interpretation and construction of physical theories
  • role of inequivalent representations in quantum mechanics
  • meaning of reference frames (classical and quantum)
  • many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics
  • relational interpretation of quantum mechanics
  • symmetry in physics, and in Kant, and issues about synthesis and perception
  • objectivity, invariance and convention
  • issues of perspective and pragmatics in physical modelling
  • perspectival pluralism

The conference follows on from the one on Time Symmetry in Quantum Mechanics in Sydney in July 2005 (details here) and the one on Decoherence, Quantum Measurement and the Arrow of Time at Beuggen, Germany, in September 2006 (details here). It is also part of the activities of the FOUNDPHYS network (IHPST, CREA, LARSIM) funded by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche.

The conference is supported by the Institut für Grenzgebiete der Psychologie und Psychohygiene, Freiburg, by the Institut d'Histoire et de Philosophie des Sciences et des Techniques, Paris (principally through project FOUNDPHYS), and by the Centre for Time, Sydney (through grants of the Australian Research Council).

Venue

16 June: Carré des Sciences, Amphithéâtre A
17, 18 and 19 June: Carré des Sciences, Amphithéâtre Stourdzé

The Carré des Sciences is the courtyard of the old École Polytechnique, in the Quartier Latin (Paris, 5th arrondissement). The entrance is from 25, rue de la Montagne Sainte Geneviève. Please have an ID on you, since the same entrance is used also for some ministry offices, and you may be stopped and have your bags inspected.

The closest métro and RER stations are Maubert-Mutualité (métro 10), Luxembourg (RER B) and Place Monge (métro 7). (The accommodation recommended below is almost entirely walking distance from the conference.)

Participants

Organising Committee

Invited Participants

(* to be confirmed)

  • David Atkinson
  • Katherine Brading
  • Jeff Bub
  • Elena Castellani
  • Talal Debs
  • Thomas Filk
  • Chris Fuchs
  • Ron Giere
  • Peter beim Graben
  • Hilary Greaves
  • Richard Healey
  • Simon Kochen
  • Federico Laudisa
  • Guenter Mahler
  • Michael Redhead
  • Carlo Rovelli
  • Eva Ruhnau*
  • Thomas Ryckman
  • Simon Saunders
  • Rob Spekkens
  • Rod Sutherland
  • Paul Teller
  • Steve Weinstein
  • Ken Wharton
  • Michael Wright
Practical Details

The format will be similar to that of the previous conferences. There will be a mix of physicists and philosophers; the emphasis will be on a relatively small number of presentations, with plenty of time for discussion, and a friendly and productive atmosphere.

Arrival is planned for the evening of 15 June, departure for the evening of 19 June.

Due to limited funds, it will be possible to offer financial support only to invited participants.

It is planned that the conference will be recorded by the Archive for Mathematical Sciences and Philosophy.

Accommodation

Some recommendations are available here.

Enquiries

Enquiries to Guido Bacciagaluppi

(Guido.Bacciagaluppi@univ-paris1.fr).

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