Eric Hochstein - Mechanistic Mayhem

Eric Hochstein (University of Victoria)

The Center for Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh invites you to join us for our Lunch Time Talk. Attend in person at 1117 Cathedral of Learning or visit our live stream on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRp47ZMXD7NXO3a9Gyh2sg.

LTT:  Eric Hochstein

Friday, December 6th  @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EDT

Title: Mechanistic Mayhem

Abstract: Mechanistic theories of explanation are widely held in the philosophy of science, especially in  philosophy of biology, neuroscience and cognitive science. While such theories remain dominant in the field, there have been an increasing number of challenges raised against them over the past decade.  These challenges include arguments that mechanistic explanations can lead to incoherence, triviality, or deviate too far from how scientists in the life sciences genuinely employ the term “mechanism”.  In this talk, I argue that these disputes are fueled, in part, by the running together of distinct questions and concerns regarding mechanisms, representations of mechanisms, and mechanistic explanation. More care and attention to how these are distinct from one another, but also the various ways they might relate, can help to defuse some of these disputes.

Can’t make it in-person? This talk will available online through the following:

Zoom:  https://pitt.zoom.us/s/98488878660

YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRp47ZMXD7NXO3a9Gyh2sg.