Mind and Life: Mechanistic and Topological Perspectives

May 30, 2013 - May 31, 2013
University of Belgrade

Belgrade
Serbia

Sponsor(s):

  • Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade
  • Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad
  • Swiss Embassy in Serbia
  • Nikola Tesla Airport
  • Belgrade Municipality “Old Town”
  • French Institute, Belgrade
  • Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia

Speakers:

Robert Batterman
University of Pittsburgh
Carl Craver
Washington University in St. Louis
(unaffiliated)
Totte Herinen
King's College London
Philippe Huneman
Institut d
Marie Kaiser
University of Geneva
Sonia Kefi
Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier
(unaffiliated)
Leiden University
Daniel Kostić
University of Novi Sad
Peter Machamer
University of Pittsburgh
Tim Maudlin
New York University
David Papineau
King's College London
Slobodan Perovi?
University of Belgrade
Ljiljana Radenović
University of Belgrade

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Program committee: Daniel Kostić and Philippe Huneman

Organizing committee: Daniel Kostić, Slobodan Perović, Živan Lazović

Attendance is free. 

The Topic of the Conference

Debates about explanations in philosophy of biology and neuroscience traditionally focus on several different models of explanations such as causal, dynamic, probabilistic, etc. The mechanistic approach to explanations currently emerged as central to life sciences and cognitive neuroscience (e.g. Bechtel and Richardson, 2010; Craver and Bechtel, 2007; Craver 2007; Darden 2006; Machamer, Darden and Craver 2000); however, recently, it has also been emphasized that explanations relying on structural, mathematical or topological considerations (e.g. Jackson and Pettit, 1998; Huneman, 2010; Batterman 2010) can play a significant role in explaining certain phenomena in various special sciences (Bassett and Bullmore, 2006; Benkö et al, 2009;  Bullmore and Sporns, 2009; Cupal et al, 1999; Fontana 2002; Honey et al 2009; Stadler et al, 2001). The relationship and prospects of these two approaches to scientific explanation have not yet been widely discussed.

The aim of this conference is to gather experts in philosophy of biology, mind, neuroscience and related areas who will discuss the relationship between these two approaches to explanation. Furthermore, the conference will discuss some dominant views concerning causation, explanation and levels of organization that are relevant for the individuation of properties and explanations.   

Contact person:

Daniel Kostić

Email: [email protected]

Tel.: +381 (0) 66 0100 31

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Who is attending?

3 people are attending:

(unaffiliated)
Leiden University
and 1 more.

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