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.
\nThe Annual Lecture Series\, the Center&rsquo\;s oldest program\, was established in 1960\, the year when Adolf Grü\;nbaum 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.
\n\nAnnual Lecture Series - Stephan Hartmann
\n\nFriday\, September 25th @ 3:30 pm - 5:30pm EDT
\n1008 Cathedral of Learning \;
\n\nTitle: \; The Open Systems View
\n\nAbstract: \;
\nQuantum 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&ndash\;decoherence\, quantum thermodynamics\, cosmology\, and black hold physics&ndash\;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&rsquo\;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&ndash\;both orthodox and Everettian&ndash\;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.
\nThis talk is based on joint work with Michael E. Cuffaro (MCMP).
\n\nCan&rsquo\;t make it in-person? This talk will available online through the following:
\n\;Zoom: \; \;and \;
\nYouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRp47ZMXD7NXO3a9Gyh2sg.
\n\nAdolf Grü\;nbaum Memorial Lecture
\nAdolf Grü\;nbaum 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.
\nHis 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 Grü\;nbaum Memorial Lecture thanks to a gift from his daughter Barbara Grü\;nbaum and her family. We are extremely grateful for this gift. We are delighted that this year the Adolf Grü\;nbaum 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/
\n\nA reception with light refreshments will follow in The Center on the 11th floor from 5-6pm.
ORGANIZER;CN=Edouard Machery: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260822T064629Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261009T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261009T153000 SUMMARY:Serife Tekin - Stability and Intervention in Psychiatry UID:20260822T064630Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-757c47d5c7-djdpn TZID:America/New_York LOCATION: University of Pittsburgh\, 4200 Fifth Avenue\, Pittsburgh\, United States\, 15260 DESCRIPTION: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.
\nThe Annual Lecture Series\, the Center&rsquo\;s oldest program\, was established in 1960\, the year when Adolf Grü\;nbaum 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.
\n\nAnnual Leture Series &ndash\; \; \;Serife Tekin
\n\nFriday\, October 9th @ 3:30 pm - 5:30pm EDT
\n\n1008 Cathedral of Learning \;
\n\nTitle: \; \;Stability and Intervention in Psychiatry
\n\nAbstract: \;
\nPsychiatry is often described as a methodologically unstable or fragmented science\, given its reliance on heterogeneous explanatory frameworks ranging from neuroscience and psychopharmacology to narrative\, phenomenological\, and patient-centered approaches. Philosophical critiques of psychiatry&rsquo\;s scientific standing frequently treat this heterogeneity as a liability\, suggesting that without stable objects of inquiry or unified classificatory kinds\, psychiatry cannot meet the explanatory and interventionist standards typically associated with mature science. This talk challenges that assumption by reconsidering what stability should mean in the context of psychiatric inquiry. Rather than treating stability as a property of diagnostic kinds or underlying mechanisms\, I suggest that it is more productively understood as something achieved through scientific and clinical practice. Drawing on work on scientific intervention\, disunity\, and the interactive nature of human kinds\, I argue that psychiatry&rsquo\;s epistemic success does not depend on discovering fixed natural kinds\, but on its capacity to generate locally reliable forms of explanation\, prediction\, and intervention. More broadly\, this perspective suggests that psychiatric stability is achieved through interventions that engage persons as reflective\, interactive\, and socially embedded targets of scientific practice.
\n\nCan&rsquo\;t make it in-person? This talk will available online through the following:
\n\;Zoom: \; \; \;and \;
\nYouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRp47ZMXD7NXO3a9Gyh2sg.
\n\nA reception with light refreshments will follow in The Center on the 11th floor from 5-6pm.
ORGANIZER;CN=Edouard Machery: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR