Lucy Mason - Methodological Intersubjectivity

Lucy Mason (University of Pittsburgh)

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: Lucy Mason

Tuesday, December 2nd  @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EST

Title: Methodological Intersubjectivity

Abstract: 

The practical methodology of performing measurements undoubtedly makes important contributions to creating intersubjective agreement between scientific agents. Intersubjectivity has become a question of interest for understanding relational, perspectival, or agent-based interpretations of physical theories (such as relativity and quantum mechanics), which face the challenge of explaining intersubjective coordination between perspectives. It is hence important to examine what bearing methodological intersubjectivity has on these issues. I will define methodological intersubjectivity, drawing on the ideas of intersecting and interlacing from the perspectival realism literature but applying it to individual physical perspectives rather than scientific communities. As a case study, I will apply this definition to time measurements in relativistic theories, looking at how time measurements are globally coordinated, at how we construct artificial perspectives, and at the inferences needed to produce agreed-upon time values. This will highlight the role of agency in creating intersubjectivity and the difficulties of modelling this within physics.

This talk will be available online:

Zoom: https://pitt.zoom.us/j/93490558315

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