Summer School: Physics and Philosophy of Time

The focus of this summer school will be to appreciate how physics and philosophy interact to contribute to our understanding of the nature of time. Our goal is to bring together scholars from both areas to consider central aspects of time as they arise in various physical theories, as well as how traditional philosophical questions regarding time may both motivate physical theorizing and find themselves constrained by it. In particular, we shall consider what statistical physics, the special and general theories of relativity, quantum mechanics, and recent developments in quantum gravity imply for our understanding of (space and) time. The relevant scientific theories consider, among many other topics, the physics of motion, the nature of the continuum, and the geometry of flat and curved spaces. Although the summer school will also consider more straightforwardly philosophical issues, the primary focus will be on the foundations of spacetime as the philosophy of physics is concerned with.

Audience: PhD students in the intersection between physics and philosophy, master students who envisage doing a PhD in the philosophy of physics, general public being acquainted with the subject at least at master level

Nearest airport: Basel (or Frankfurt or Zurich), start 23 July evening, end 28 July after lunch

Fee: EUR 600 for PhD and master students, EUR 900 for other participants, includes accommodation in single room with private bathroom in good hotel (***S), full board and tuition

Inscription: please send short letter of motivation and CV by e-mail to [email protected] by 1 April 2013.

For further information, see http://www.unil.ch/philo/page95121.html, follow http://takingupspacetime.wordpress.com, or contact [email protected].