Armin Schulz - Agency: The Case for an Eliminative Pluralism

Armin W. Schulz (University of Kansas)

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.

Lunch Time Talk - Armin Schulz

Friday, December 5th @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EST

Title: Agency: The Case for an Eliminative Pluralism

Abstract:

Concepts of agency are invoked in many different sciences, from evolutionary biology to computer science and economics. In order to understand and assess the work in these sciences, therefore, it is crucial to understand these appeals to “agency.” To make progress in this, this paper makes the case for three interrelated conclusions. First, the best way to understand the question about the nature of agency is as an account that lays out defensible scientific uses of the concept of agency—not a purely metaphysical-philosophical account, or a purely interpretationist account. Second, the paper seeks to show that there is not one right answer about what an agent is—that is, we should be eliminativists about the general concept of agency. Third, though, it also shows that this should not be conflated with the view that anything goes as far as agency is concerned: in specific scientific contexts, such as economics and biology, there are more and less defensible views of agency in that context. That is, we should be scientific pluralists about agency.

This talk will be available online:

Zoom: https://pitt.zoom.us/j/94110795330

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