Pragmatism and Measurement

Measurement is a central activity in the acquisition of scientific knowledge. With increasing attention to scientific practice, there is renewed interest determining what contributes to the reliability of measurement, its accuracy, and precision. The epistemology and metaphysics of measurement raise fundamental questions about the relationship between scientific theories and models, human actions, and the natural world. These include:

1. The representational and informational character of measurements (What do they measure?)

2. The evaluation of measurement outcomes (How should we assess the validity or reliability of a measurement process?)

3. The objectivity of measurements (How is the measurement process guided by theory? How is it independent? What are the implications for the status of measurement as evidence?)

This workshop will explore how a philosophically pragmatist epistemology and metaphysics addresses these questions, and how pragmatist frameworks might transform our understanding of the character and constituents of successful scientific measurement.

Confirmed Keynote Speakers:

• Nancy Cartwright, UCSD and Durham
• Hasok Chang, University of Cambridge
• Eran Tal, McGill University

In addition to the keynote lectures, the workshop will include 10 additional presentations (30 minutes (20 minutes + 10 Q&A) and a roundtable discussion.

If you are interested in being a speaker, please submit an abstract of between 500-800 words (including references), by November 26, 2024, midnight anywhere, to [email protected].