14-16 Nov 2013
Munich, Germany
********************************************* REDUCTION AND EMERGENCE IN THE SCIENCES LMU Munich 14-16 November 2013 http://www.lmu.de/reductionandemergence/ ********************************************* Reduction and emergence play a central role in the relations of scientific theories and disciplines. For instance, a reducible theory is in some sense replaceable but also supported by its reducing theory. In contrast, a theory that describes emergent phenomena arguably stands alone in both respects. Unfortunately, the discussion about reduction and emergence suffers from two uncertainties at once. On the one hand the concepts of reduction and especially emergence are not precisely defined, on the other hand there are few if any uncontentious cases of reduction or emergence in the sciences. This stalemate can be overcome by a thorough analysis of relations between and within scientific theories. These relations can then serve as a basis for explications of reduction and emergence that are applicable in the sciences. In this vein, we invite proposals for talks that address the inter- or intratheoretic relations of specific theories or provide precise notions of such relations! for the application in the sciences. We invite submissions of extended abstracts of 1000 words by 15 May 2013. Decisions will be made by 15 June 2013. INVITED SPEAKERS: Patricia S. Churchland (San Diego), Kevin Hoover (Duke), Margaret Morrison (Toronto), Samir Okasha (Bristol) ORGANIZERS: Stephan Hartmann, Sebastian Lutz, Karim Thébault