Modeling, Idealization and Truth: A dialogue between contemporary philosophy of science and the Aristotelian tradition

A central theme within the philosophy of science is the importance of idealization, metaphor and modeling for both how we know, and what we know, through the natural sciences. This improved understanding of how the sciences work has led (at least within the philosophy of science community) to the realization that physical theories should not be interpreted literally, and that the mathematical structure of a theory is not a straightforward guide to the metaphysics of the entities described by that theory. On the other hand, the philosophical discussion of modeling, metaphor and idealization -- and the relationship of these notions to truth is not new and has a long pedigree within the Aristotelian-Thomistic tradition. This conference brings together philosophers of science and those working within Aristotelian-Thomism to discuss how the resources of this tradition can be brought to bear on contemporary philosophy of science.

Recent doctoral scholars and graduate students are invited to submit proposals (no longer than 300 words) for a short paper to [email protected] by 1 January 2023. Please include a short academic biographical note (50-150 words) in the submission that lists any degrees and the institutions where they were obtained, as well as your current affiliation.