International Workshop
Traditional and Inductive Metaphysics
Technische Universität Dortmund, Germany
Dec 07 - Dec 08, 2017
This workshop is hosted by the DFG-research group “Inductive Metaphysics” (FOR 2495); it is organised by K. Engelhard, B. Falkenburg, S. Jaag, M. Schrenk, O. Scholz and G. Schurz.
Traditional and Inductive Metaphysics
Technische Universität Dortmund, Germany
Dec 07 - Dec 08, 2017
This workshop is hosted by the DFG-research group “Inductive Metaphysics” (FOR 2495); it is organised by K. Engelhard, B. Falkenburg, S. Jaag, M. Schrenk, O. Scholz and G. Schurz.
Description
The new research group, „Inductive Metaphysics. Articulation, Application and Challenges“, is hosted at the universities of Bonn, Cologne, Dortmund, Düsseldorf and Münster (Germany). It aims at developing a robust concept of Inductive Metaphysics (IM) and at defending it against objections. The term “Inductive Metaphysics” was introduced by German thinkers of the 19th century, among others Külpe and von Hartmann. IM assumes that inductive methods (abduction, inferences to the best explanation) and empirical premises should and do play a role in tackling many metaphysical issues.
IM has to be delineated against naturalised metaphysics and the Canberra Plan on the one hand, and against aprioristic metaphysics on the other. We want to clarify which roles empirical sources of knowledge can play in metaphysics, which kinds of a posteriori methods can be justified in metaphysics, and which of these a posteriori elements can be found in the history of metaphysics as well as today.
In this workshop we are particularly interested in the following three groups of questions: First, which role do empirical information and empirical methods play in contemporary metaphysics, what are they and how can they be justified in metaphysics? Second, what did the initiators of this concept in the 19th century think about Inductive Metaphysics? And third, how does 18th century metaphysics relate to empirical sources of knowledge and a posteriori forms of inference?
The new research group, „Inductive Metaphysics. Articulation, Application and Challenges“, is hosted at the universities of Bonn, Cologne, Dortmund, Düsseldorf and Münster (Germany). It aims at developing a robust concept of Inductive Metaphysics (IM) and at defending it against objections. The term “Inductive Metaphysics” was introduced by German thinkers of the 19th century, among others Külpe and von Hartmann. IM assumes that inductive methods (abduction, inferences to the best explanation) and empirical premises should and do play a role in tackling many metaphysical issues.
IM has to be delineated against naturalised metaphysics and the Canberra Plan on the one hand, and against aprioristic metaphysics on the other. We want to clarify which roles empirical sources of knowledge can play in metaphysics, which kinds of a posteriori methods can be justified in metaphysics, and which of these a posteriori elements can be found in the history of metaphysics as well as today.
In this workshop we are particularly interested in the following three groups of questions: First, which role do empirical information and empirical methods play in contemporary metaphysics, what are they and how can they be justified in metaphysics? Second, what did the initiators of this concept in the 19th century think about Inductive Metaphysics? And third, how does 18th century metaphysics relate to empirical sources of knowledge and a posteriori forms of inference?
Speakers
- Amanda Bryant (Peterborough, Canada)
- Ralf Busse (Mainz, Germany)
- Mary Domski (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
- Kristina Engelhard (Dortmund/Leipzig, Germany)
- Michael Heidelberger (Tübingen, Germany)
- Arnaud Pelletier (Brüssel, Belgium)
- Oliver R. Scholz (Münster, Germany)
- Gerhard Schurz (Düsseldorf, Germany)
- Peter Simons (Dublin, Ireland)
Program
Thursday, Dec 07
|
10:15 - 11:15
11:45 - 12:45 14:15 - 15:15 15:30 - 16:30 16:45 - 17:45 |
Oliver R. Scholz: "Das Programm der induktiven Metaphysik bei Erich Becher"
Michael Heidelberger: "Fechners induktive Metaphysik -- ein gangbarer Weg?" lunch Gerhard Schurz: "Abduction as a Method of Inductive Metaphysics" Amanda Bryant: "Ampliative Inference, Epistemic Trade-Offs, and Disciplinary Autonomy in Scientifically Responsible Metaphysics" Peter Simons: "The Long and Winding Road: Empirical Feedback in Metaphysics" |
Friday, Dec 08
|
10:15 - 11:15
11:45 - 12:45 14:15 - 15:15 15:30 - 16:30 |
Ralf Busse: "Against Metaphysical Structuralism. A Case Study in Isreal Potter' s Methodology"
Mary Domski: "Newton on the Mathematical Certainty of Metaphysical Truths" lunch Arnold Pelletier: "Leibniz, the Inductive Challenge" Kristina Engelhard: "Inductive Metaphysics in Leibniz and Wolff?" |
