metaphysics of science
an AHRC funded research project
causes, laws, kinds, and dispositions
Metaphysics of Science Nottingham 2009 Conference
- The next major project conference—MoS'09—will be held in Nottingham, 12–14 September 2009. Please go to the conference pages for further details.
- The Registration form for MoS'09 is now online.
- The Provisional programme for MoS'09 is now online.
- The MoS'09 conference poster, advertising this major conference on the Metaphysics of Science, is now available online.
- The MoS'09 conference flyer, which includes information on the extended deadline, is now available online.
project description
We naturally think that what happens in the universe is governed by laws of nature. We also think that events are causally related to other events, that things are naturally classified into kinds (physical, chemical and biological kinds, for example), and that at least some natural kinds have distinctive dispositions (for example, the disposition of NaCl to dissolve in water). This project explores how, or whether, all these distinct notions - law, cause, natural kind, disposition - can be made to fit together into a coherent and unified worldview. For example, must two causally related events be such that they are members of kinds that are lawfully related? Must those kinds be natural kinds? Are natural kinds distinguished from one another by the fact that members of different kinds are disposed to behave in different ways? This is a three year project based at the Universities of Birmingham, Bristol, and Nottingham.
project leaders
- Alexander Bird
(PI)
Philosophy, University of Bristol. email: Alexander.Bird@bristol.ac.uk - Helen
Beebee
Philosophy, University of Birmingham. email: h.beebee@bham.ac.uk - Stephen
Mumford
Philosophy, University of Nottingham. email: Stephen.Mumford@nottingham.ac.uk
postdoctoral research fellows
Three postdoctoral research fellows have been appointed to work on the project:
- Dr Francis Longworth (Birmingham)
- Dr Emma Tobin (Bristol)
- Dr Markus Schrenk (Nottingham)
Further details are available on the Postdocs page
doctoral students
Two PhD students have been appointed to work on the project.
- Nigel Leary (Birmingham)
- Matt Tugby (Notthingham)
Further details are available on the PhD students page.
