Alyssa Ney - Fundamentality of Physics without Completeness

Alyssa Ney (LMU Munich)

The Center for Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh invites you to join us for our 65th Annual Lecture Series Talk. Attend in person in room 1008 in the Cathedral of Learning (10th Floor)  or visit our live stream on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRp47ZMXD7NXO3a9Gyh2sg.

The Annual Lecture Series, the Center’s oldest program, was established in 1960, the year when Adolf Grünbaum founded the Center. Each year the series consists of six to eight lectures, about three quarters of which are given by philosophers, historians, and scientists from other universities.

ALS – Alyssa Ney

Friday, February 21 @ 3:30 pm - 5:30pm EST

1008 Cathedral of Learning 

This talk will also be our 2024-25 Adolf Grünbaum Memorial Lecture.

This talk will also be available live streamed on Zoom at: https://pitt.zoom.us/j/93433720100

Title: Fundamentality of Physics without Completeness

Abstract: In contemporary philosophy, the fundamentality of physics and physicalism are typically understood as ontological completeness claims of some sort. For example, physics is taken to provide a complete supervenience or realization basis, or a complete set of grounds for all facts or entities. However, since no formulated physical theory provides a complete ontological basis for all facts or entities, one must seek an alternative interpretation if one wants a realistic understanding of the sense in which our current physical theories are fundamental. The aim of this paper is to develop such an interpretation, one that bases the fundamentality of our current physical theories in a claim about their ontological depth and comprehensiveness. It is argued that this interpretation of the metaphysical fundamentality of physics is more in line with the way that physicists regard certain theories as fundamental than standard philosophical conceptions.

The History of the 2024-2025 Adolf Grünbaum Memorial Lecture

Adolf Grünbaum was the first Andrew Mellon Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh from 1960, when he was hired away from Lehigh, until his death in November 2018. He was the world preeminent philosopher of physics of his generation, and he was instrumental in building philosophy and philosophy of science at Pitt. Among other things, Adolf founded the Center for Philosophy of Science in 1960, and remained its director until 1978. Adolf also inaugurated the Annual Lecture Series in 1961, and so this is the 52nd occurrence of this lecture series. His works include very important books such as Philosophical Problems of Space and Time (1963) and The Foundations of Psychoanalysis (1984).

In honor and memory of his legacy of prolific and profound contributions to the field of philosophy, the Center has established an annual Adolf Grünbaum Memorial Lecture thanks to a gift from his daughter Barbara Grünbaum and her family. We are extremely grateful for this gift.

We are delighted that this year the Adolf Grünbaum memorial lecture will be given by Professor Alyssa Ney.

To learn more about past speakers, use the link here:  https://www.centerphilsci.pitt.edu/events-and-more/annual-lecture-series/grunbaum-memorial-lecture/