Physical and Philosophical Perspectives on Probability, Explanation and Time (Workshop of the ESF Programme “The Philosophy of Science in a European Perspective”, Utrecht University, 19–20 October 2009)

Abstract

In 2008 the European Science Foundation Research Networking Programme ‘‘The Philosophy of Science in a European Perspective’’ (PSE) started its activities with a plenary conference in Vienna, in which the five PSE Research Teams met and where the research agenda of the Programme was discussed (see J Gen Philos Sci (2009) 40:129–136). As part of the follow-up to this opening conference and execution of the plans that were made, Teams A (‘‘Formal Methods’’), D (‘‘Physical Sciences’’) and E (‘‘Foundational and Methodological Debates’’) came together for a joint workshop in Zeist (near Utrecht, The Netherlands) on October 19–20, 2009. The general motivation behind PSE is to continue and revive the European tradition in the philosophy of science by forging an active and coherent European research community in this field. Accordingly, the Networking Programme not only furthers high-level research within the individual sub-disciplines in the programme, but also stimulates exchanges and cooperation between the Teams representing these various sub-disciplines. This general idea was reflected in the set-up of the Zeist workshop. The meeting comprised eight sessions, each consisting of four talks plus discussion. Six of these sessions were devoted to specific questions in the scientific disciplines of the individual Teams, whereas two sessions had an outspoken interdisciplinary character and focused on areas of overlap and joint interest between Teams A and D and Teams A and E, respectively. The workshop was concluded by a plenary lecture delivered by Patrick Suppes, which brought the total number of presented papers to 33. A detailed programme of the workshop can be found at the PSE website, http://www.pse-esf.org/.