LTT: Kareem Khalifa - Causally Modeling the Value-Free Ideal
Kareem Khalifa (University of California, Los Angeles)

February 10, 2026, 12:00pm - 1:30pm
The Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh

1117 Cathedral of Learning - 11th Floor
University of Pittsburgh, 4200 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh 15260
United States

This event is available both online and in-person

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University of Pittsburgh

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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:   Kareem Khalifa

Tuesday, February 10th @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EST

Title: Causally Modeling the Value-Free Ideal

Abstract:

In science-and-values discussions, the value-free ideal (VFI) is sometimes glossed as the thesis that non-epistemic values’ influences on scientific reasoning are never legitimate. Although “influence” is a causal notion, discussions of the VFI have not engaged the vast literature on causal modeling. In this paper, I propose some useful ways in which causal models can be used to sharpen this variant of the VFI. Doing so reveals underappreciated burdens of proof in debates about the VFI.

This talk will be available online:

Zoom:  https://pitt.zoom.us/j/93125716226


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

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