Abstract
In their daily business scientists often use various simplifying assumptions. Although philosophers of science have started paying more attention to this common practice, numerous questions remain unsolved.
This workshop aims to address issues such as: What kind of simplifying assumptions do scientists employ? How do they justify them? In the light of wide-spread simplifications, how should we reconceptualize the traditional aims of the sciences, and notions such as scientific explanation, understanding, etc.? Speakers in alphabetical order: Alkistis Elliott-Graves (University of Helsinki / Australian National University) Tarja Knuuttila (University of Vienna) Ladislav Kvasz (Czech Academy of Sciences / Charles University) Michela Massimi (University of Edinburgh) Uskali Mäki (University of Helsinki) Christopher Pincock (Ohio State University) Demetris Portides (University of Cyprus) Angela Potochnik (University of Cincinnati) Michael Strevens (New York University) Dingmar van Eck (University of Ghent) Martin Zach (Charles University)