Grünbaum Memorial Lecture - Stephan Hartmann - The Open Systems View

Stephan Hartmann (LMU Munich, LMU Munich)

The Center for Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh invites you to join us for our 67th 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.

Annual Lecture Series - Stephan Hartmann

Friday, September 25th @ 3:30 pm - 5:30pm EDT

1008 Cathedral of Learning 

Title:  The Open Systems View

Abstract: 

Quantum theory is commonly understood as a theory of closed, isolated systems, with open systems treated as merely effective descriptions obtained by embedding them into larger closed systems. In this talk, I challenge this assumption and defend the open systems view, according to which systems interacting with their environments can themselves be treated as fundamental. The motivation is both physical and methodological: in central areas of contemporary physics–decoherence, quantum thermodynamics, cosmology, and black hold physics–strict isolation is neither realistic nor clearly defined, and its privileged status rests on idealizations whose epistemic and ontological roles require closer scrutiny. I present a general framework for open quantum dynamics in which environmental influence is incorporated directly into the system’s dynamical laws, without presupposing an underlying unitary system-environment decomposition, thereby treating openness as a basic structural feature of quantum theory rather than a derivative approximation. I then argue that standard interpretations of quantum mechanics–both orthodox and Everettian–are, despite appearances, already committed to open systems at the ontological level. The open systems view thus moticates a rethinking of fundamentality, realism, and the role of idealization in quantum theory, and offers a methodologically transparent perspective on what quantum theory is fundamentally about.

This talk is based on joint work with Michael E. Cuffaro (MCMP).

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

 Zoom:   and 

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

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 66th 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 Wayne Myrvold. To learn more about past speakers, use the link here: https://www.centerphilsci.pitt.edu/events-and-more/annual-lecture-series/grunbaum-memorial-lecture/

A reception with light refreshments will follow in The Center on the 11th floor from 5-6pm.