29 July - 2 August 2008
Geneva, Switzerland
GSSPP08--Geneva Summer School in the Philosophy of Physics 2008, July 28 - August 2 Topic: What is the Nature of Space and Time? For more information on the summer school and for how to apply, visit http://www.philosophie.ch/eidos/events2008/summerschool.shtml. This summer school is geared to doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers in philosophy of physics, philosophically minded physicists as well as in academic and non-academic professionals interested in an advanced level introduction to the main problems of contemporary philosophy of physics. We aim to bring this group together with leading experts on the foundations of spacetime who will guide us through the current debates in the metaphysics and physics of spacetime. Experts will give lectures on each of these topics. An effort will be made to presuppose little by way of prior exposure to the literature both in physics as well as in philosophy. The lectures should thus be accessible to the talented novice, although we expect the programme to be dense. The summer school aims at providing a synoptic view of the main theories and the latest research in the philosophy of space and time. Participants in the summer school will achieve this aim both through high-quality teaching and through intensive interaction with some of the best experts on these matters world-wide. Anyone successfully completing the summer school should thus be in a position to get started on some of the more advanced work in the philosophy of spacetime. In particular, the summer school will serve as an intense preparation for doing research in the area, both for the beginning doctoral student as well as for anyone further along the road with an interest to build up the philosophy of spacetime as a core competence. Last but not least, it will allow the participants to connect with leading experts in the field and thus lets them establish a network vital for their research careers. Direction: Kevin Mulligan (University of Geneva) Organizing Committee: Christian Wüthrich (University California, San Diego), Vincent Lam (University of Lausanne), Philipp Keller (University of Geneva) Speakers: * Jeremy Butterfield (University of Cambridge) * Dennis Dieks (University of Utrecht) * John Earman (University of Pittsburgh) * Nick Huggett (University of Illinois, Chicago) * Vincent Lam (University of Lausanne) * Stephan Leuenberger (University of Leeds) * Carlo Rovelli (Centre de Physique Théorique, Marseille and Universit é de Méditerranée) * Christian Wüthrich (University California, San Diego) Application: Applicants should send us a short application letter of no more than one page stating the reason for their application and their level of technical expertise in the relevant physics together with a CV by 15 April 2008. Applications should be sent to Christian Wüthrich (wuthrich AT ucsd.ed u) and Vincent Lam (vincent.lam AT unil.ch). We will notify the applicants by 20 April 2008. Tuition fees: * for PhD students in philosophy or physics and young researchers (PhD not more than three years ago): 300 CHF (by 30 April) / 350 CHF (after 30 April) * for academic and non-academic professionals: 1000 CHF (by 30 April) / 1200 CHF (after 30 April) Tuition fee includes all lectures, conference materials, reception on Sunday evening, coffee breaks, and the excursion. The fees do not include accommodation, meals, and travel to and from the location of the summer school. Inquiries: For all inquiries, please contact Vincent Lam (vincent.lam AT unil.ch) or Christian Wüthrich (wuthrich AT ucsd.edu). Christian Wüthrich, PhD Assistant Professor of Philosophy and of Science Studies University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, 0119 La Jolla, CA 92093, USA +1-858-534-6548 Visit me at http://philosophy.ucsd.edu/faculty/wuthrich/