Dear all:
Please join us for the next Philosophy Workshop, on Wednesday 17/2 at 5pm. Enno
Fischer will give a talk on the role of the concept of causation in physics.
Please note that, exceptionally, the workshop will take place in Seminar Room 2.
Tea and biscuits will be provided.
Best, Jeremy B
ABSTRACT:
In 1912, Bertrand Russell described the principle of causality as a ârelic of
a bygone age, surviving, like the monarchy, only because it is erroneously
supposed to do no harmâ. Moreover, according to Russell, â[t]he word
âcauseâ is so inextricably bound up with misleading associations as to make
its complete extrusion from the philosophical vocabulary desirable.â Today,
about 100 years later, a lively philosophical debate concerning the concept of
causality points out that Russellâs demand for its complete extrusion is not
fulfilled. The relevance of this debate is amply justified since the concept of
causation has a strong presence in many fields. A special relationship to the
concept of causation is often ascribed to physics or certain branches of
physics. Russellâs influential position is exemplary. According to Russell,
causal laws in physics compete with laws that are formulated as mathematical
functions. Since functions are much more precise than causal laws, they should
be preferred. Thus, causal concepts do not play any role in advanced sciences
like gravitational astronomy. In my talk, I will address the question of which
role the concept of causation plays in physics. Taking up Russellâs
criticism, I will present my own position which is subdivided into two theses.
On the one hand, a principle of causality cannot play a fundamental role in the
context of advanced theories that are remote from practical applications. On
the other hand, a complete elimination of any causal concepts from all of
physics would go too far. If in an experiment the actual result deviates from
the predicted result, then the determination of causes of the deviation is the
crucial step.
...brought to you by HPS-discussion.
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