NIAS Seminar
Thursday 11 February 2010, 4 PM Lecture Room, NIAS, Meijboomlaan 1, 2242 PR Wassenaar
NIAS Fellow: Henk de Regt
Henk W. de Regt is University Lecturer in Philosophy of Science at the Faculty of Philosophy of VU University Amsterdam. His research interests are in history and philosophy of science, with a focus on scientific explanation and understanding. He is co-founder of the European Philosophy of Science Association (EPSA).
At present, he is Lorentz Fellow at NIAS.
Understanding Scientific Understanding
Understanding nature is a central aim of science. But what exactly is scientific understanding and how is it achieved? Although these are clearly philosophical questions, they have long been neglected by philosophers of science because of the misguided assumption that understanding is purely subjective and therefore irrelevant to a philosophical account of science. I will argue against this view. After presenting two examples from the history of science, I will offer an analysis of the nature of scientific understanding that accords with scientific practice and accommodates the historical diversity of concepts of understanding. Its core idea is a general criterion that the intelligibility of scientific theories is essentially contextual: which theories conform to this criterion depends on contextual factors, and can change over the course of time. My analysis provides a general account of how understanding is provided by diverse types of scientific explanations.
The lecture is followed by an open discussion.
The seminar will take place in the Lecture Room (NIAS, Meijboomlaan 1, Wassenaar) at 16.00 hours, followed by drinks in the Common Room at 17.30 hours. Changes in the programme may occur, so, please let us know if you wish to attend. For further information see www.nias.nl or contact Johan Kwantes (e mail: J.Kwantes@nias.knaw.nl)
The NIAS Seminar series is a sequence of lectures organised each academic year by the Rector of the Institute. These seminars are meant to appeal to interested parties from a wide range of backgrounds. NIAS seminars are aimed to encourage closer contact within the Dutch academic world.
Meijboomlaan 1, 2242 PR Wassenaar, The Netherlands
Telephone (0)70-512 27 00 Telefax (0)70-511 71 62
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