Published on Mar 5, 2015 One hundred years ago, in November 1915, Albert Einstein achieved his long-sought theory of gravitation: the General Theory of Relativity. In developing the General Theory, Einstein brought together ideas from philosophy, mathematics, and physics, to create a remarkable new conception of gravity, space, and time. His work is a model [...]
One hundred years ago, in November 1915, Albert Einstein achieved his long-sought theory of gravitation: the General Theory of Relativity. In developing the General Theory, Einstein brought together ideas from philosophy, mathematics, and physics, to create a remarkable new conception of gravity, space, and time. His work is a model of the engagement between philosophy [...]
The second lecture Peter Achinstein gave in November, 2014 is now available on our YouTube channel, and below: Abstract: Isaac Newton famously claimed that hypotheses, i.e., unproved propositions, have no place in “experimental philosophy.” Maxwell disagreed and proposed three methods that can legitmately be employed when a scientist lacks proof for a theory, or even a [...]
Abstract: Scientists and philosophers who seek, or advocate seeking, a “theory of everything” (e.g., string theory, Thomas Nagel’s panpsychic theory, David Chalmers’ “construction of the world”) want to produce a grand, unifying theory that can explain everything on the basis of fundamental laws and constituents of the universe. Advocates of this idea offer very general [...]
You can now view the public panel Climate Change: What is to be done? with panelists Gary Brown (Community Activist), Heather Douglas (University of Waterloo), Radoslav Dimitrov (Western University), and Jeffrey Simpson (The Globe and Mail). Climate Change: What is to be done? A public panel discussion - Tonight - October 23
Peter Achinstein of Johns Hopkins University is visiting the Rotman Institute next week, and will give two talks. His talk on Thursday, November 13 will engage with the history and philosophy of science, and his public talk on November 14 will be aimed at a more public audience (but also of interest to philosophers). What is [...]
Public Speaker: Leonard Smith, London School of EconomicsOctober 29, 2014 Location: London Public Library (Central Branch) 251 Dundas St., Stevenson & Hunt Room, 1st floorStart Time: 7:00 pmEnd Time: 9:00 pmClimate prediction and weather prediction are very different: due to constant refinements and new techniques, the life time of a climate model is much less than [...]
We have launched the webpage for the Rotman fall conference, Knowledge and Models in Climate science.On this page, you will find the registration form and other information about the conference and related activities at the institute.
Library Speaker SeriesEach October, the Department of Philosophy at Western initiates a public speakers' series at the London Public Library (Central Branch, 251 Dundas St, Stevenson & Hunt room, 1st Floor). 7:00 p.m. Fall 2014 SeriesClimate Change: The Philosophical Issues October 8, 2014What Do You Bring to a Street Fight?Wayne Myrvold (Western) An editorial in the journal Nature warned climate [...]
Please join us for a three-part lecture series on the science of climate change, presented by visiting Rotman Institute scholar Professor Roman Frigg.September 15, 3pm-5pm: Lecture 1: Basic Concepts in Climate Science---Location: Stevenson Hall, Room 1140[Lecture 1 slides here]September 17, 3pm-5pm: Lecture 2: Climate Modelling---Location: Stevenson Hall, Room 2150H[Lecture 2 slides here ]September 19, 3pm-5pm: [...]
