MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR WISSENSCHAFTSGESCHICHTE Max Planck Institute for the History of Science

Event

Nov 25, 2022
Historical Epistemology and the Semantic Layers of Ether / Meta-Empirical Assessment in the Early Universe Scenario


Urko Gorriñobeaskoa Artolozaga
Title: Historical Epistemology and the Semantic Layers of Ether
Abstract: ’Ether’ is one of the most polysemic terms in the history of physics. Since the seventeenth century, it has undergone plenty of changes in its meaning, representation and uses, and has played many different roles in physical theories and experimental systems. Considering its eclectic nature, the ether poses a number of interesting historiographical questions concerning the relation between the different types of ethers, the causes of its demise by the beginning of the twentieth century or its revival some decades later. Also, it offers a prolific field for philosophical inquiries, as a reconstruction of its history may provide some hints about concept formation, development, and abandonment in physics.

In this talk, I introduce the general points of my PhD project. I start by explaining the relation between the three poles of my thesis: historical epistemology (theory), semantic layered analysis (methodology), and history of the ether (case study). Then, I turn to the theoretical dimension of my project, revisiting the question ‘what is historical epistemology?’. Drawing on Yves Gingras’ criticism from 2010, I build bridges between the two major traditions in historical epistemology: the French school of épistémologie historique, and the historical epistemology of the first Max Planck Institute for the History of Science. Finally, I offer a non-exhaustive characterization of historical epistemology, stressing its interest in the historicization of knowledge, the critical/emancipatory presentism, and the conditions of possibility for knowledge to emerge.

Beñat Monfort Urkizu
Title: Meta-Empirical Assessment in the Early Universe Scenario
Abstract: Meta-Empirical theory Assessment (MEA) argues that, due to the progressive distancing of theory from experiment, the way of evaluating contemporary physical theories has changed: as empirical confirmation became more difficult, physicists developed new methods to recognize which theories are worth pursuing, making it possible to assess theories with little or no empirical basis. In that direction, Richard Dawid tried to catch this new way of assessing theories of fundamental physics meta-empirically by proposing three methodological arguments; namely the plain no alternative argument (NAA), the argument of unexpected explanatory coherence (UEA) and the meta-inductive argument (MIA). His central idea is that the synergy of these three arguments in support of a theory amounts to a form of meta-empirical confirmation. In this talk, I shall first sketch this philosophical framework in order to focus later on a concrete physically relevant case study – Cosmic Inflation – and investigate how that theory adjusts to MEA. The case study of Cosmic Inflation is interesting in this concern because, yet with the materialization of some of its predictions and its undeniable predominance in the early universe scenario, its viability – as well as its empirical status – continues to be controversial. My central thesis is that Dawid’s three arguments represent well the reasons why theoretical physicists keep trusting Cosmic Inflation but they do not guarantee its viability: I shall claim MEA plays a legitimate role in theory confirmation in cosmology, but I shall back that Cosmic Inflation is pursuit-worthy rather than meta-empirically confirmed.
Address
Boltzmannstraße 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany
About This Series

The seminar series of the Research Group “Historical Epistemology of the Final Theory Program” runs once a month, usually on a Monday at 14:00 in the seminar room of the Villa (Harnackstraße 5). The talks deal primarily with the history, philosophy, and foundations of modern (post-WWII) physics or with wider epistemological questions related to the work of the group. There are no pre-circulated papers.

Full program of the seminar series, Research Group “Historical Epistemology of the Final Theory Program”
2022-11-25T14:00:00SAVE IN I-CAL 2022-11-25 14:00:00 2022-11-25 16:00:00 Historical Epistemology and the Semantic Layers of Ether / Meta-Empirical Assessment in the Early Universe Scenario Urko Gorriñobeaskoa Artolozaga Title: Historical Epistemology and the Semantic Layers of Ether Abstract: ’Ether’ is one of the most polysemic terms in the history of physics. Since the seventeenth century, it has undergone plenty of changes in its meaning, representation and uses, and has played many different roles in physical theories and experimental systems. Considering its eclectic nature, the ether poses a number of interesting historiographical questions concerning the relation between the different types of ethers, the causes of its demise by the beginning of the twentieth century or its revival some decades later. Also, it offers a prolific field for philosophical inquiries, as a reconstruction of its history may provide some hints about concept formation, development, and abandonment in physics. In this talk, I introduce the general points of my PhD project. I start by explaining the relation between the three poles of my thesis: historical epistemology (theory), semantic layered analysis (methodology), and history of the ether (case study). Then, I turn to the theoretical dimension of my project, revisiting the question ‘what is historical epistemology?’. Drawing on Yves Gingras’ criticism from 2010, I build bridges between the two major traditions in historical epistemology: the French school of épistémologie historique, and the historical epistemology of the first Max Planck Institute for the History of Science. Finally, I offer a non-exhaustive characterization of historical epistemology, stressing its interest in the historicization of knowledge, the critical/emancipatory presentism, and the conditions of possibility for knowledge to emerge. Beñat Monfort Urkizu Title: Meta-Empirical Assessment in the Early Universe Scenario Abstract: Meta-Empirical theory Assessment (MEA) argues that, due to the progressive distancing of theory from experiment, the way of evaluating contemporary physical theories has changed: as empirical confirmation became more difficult, physicists developed new methods to recognize which theories are worth pursuing, making it possible to assess theories with little or no empirical basis. In that direction, Richard Dawid tried to catch this new way of assessing theories of fundamental physics meta-empirically by proposing three methodological arguments; namely the plain no alternative argument (NAA), the argument of unexpected explanatory coherence (UEA) and the meta-inductive argument (MIA). His central idea is that the synergy of these three arguments in support of a theory amounts to a form of meta-empirical confirmation. In this talk, I shall first sketch this philosophical framework in order to focus later on a concrete physically relevant case study – Cosmic Inflation – and investigate how that theory adjusts to MEA. The case study of Cosmic Inflation is interesting in this concern because, yet with the materialization of some of its predictions and its undeniable predominance in the early universe scenario, its viability – as well as its empirical status – continues to be controversial. My central thesis is that Dawid’s three arguments represent well the reasons why theoretical physicists keep trusting Cosmic Inflation but they do not guarantee its viability: I shall claim MEA plays a legitimate role in theory confirmation in cosmology, but I shall back that Cosmic Inflation is pursuit-worthy rather than meta-empirically confirmed. Boltzmannstraße 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany Europe/Berlin public