Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris, 24-25 March 2011
Conference supported by the ANR/DFG project CAUSAPROBA and hosted by the Institut d'Histoire et de Philosophie des Sciences et des Techniques (IHPST) Universite Paris 1 - Pantheon-Sorbonne / Ecole Normale Superieure / CNRS
Speakers
- Peter Menzies (Macquarie) The Causal Structure of Mechanisms
- Michael Waldmann (Göttingen) Reconciling Competing Theories of Causal Reasoning
- James Woodward (Pittsburgh) Mechanisms Reconsidered
- Christophe Malaterre (IHPST, Paris) On the Distinctness of Causal Variables
- Michael Baumgartner (Konstanz) Rendering Interventionism and Non-Reductive Physicalism Compatible
- Carl Craver (Washington University in St. Louis) Optogenetics and Maker's Knowledge of the Brain
- Philippe Huneman (IHPST, Paris) Distinguishing Among Causal Explanations in Biology: Mechanical and Topological Explanations
- Francis Longworth (IHPST, Paris) Counterfactual and Mechanistic Approaches to Indeterministic Causation
- Jaakko Kuorikoski (Helsinki) How to be a Humean Interventionist
- Raffaella Campaner (Bologna) Mechanisms, Counterfactuals and Multilevel Explanations
Organizers: Isabelle Drouet (IHPST, Paris), Max Kistler (Universite Paris 1), Francis Longworth (IHPST, Paris).
The theme of this conference is counterfactuals, mechanisms and causation, and what the relationships between these three concepts might be. Some have argued that mechanisms should be understood causally, perhaps via a counterfactual analysis of causation; others have suggested that the notion of mechanism is more fundamental, and that it can illuminate a variety of other concepts, including causation. This conference brings together some of the leading authors who have shaped recent debates on these issues, and it provides a forum for discussion and exchange of the new ideas.
09:30 - 10:45 Peter Menzies: The Causal Structure of Mechanisms (Chair: Kistler)
10:45 - 12:00 Michael Waldman: Reconciling Competing Theories of Causal Reasoning (Chair: Kistler)
12:00 - 14:00 Lunch: Le Coupe-Chou
pm: Salle des Résistants (14-18)
14:00 - 15:15 James Woodward: Mechanisms Reconsidered (Chair: Longworth)
15:15 - 16:30 Christophe Malaterre: On the Distinctness of Causal Variables (Chair: Longworth)
16:30 - 16:45 Coffee Break
16:45 - 18:00 Michael Baumgartner: Rendering Interventionism and Non-Reductive Physicalism Compatible (Chair: Drouet)
19.30 Conference Dinner: Bouillon Racine
Friday 25th March
am: Salle Beckett (9.30-12)
09:30 - 10:45 Carl Craver: Optogenetics and Maker's Knowledge of the Brain (Chair: Longworth)
10:45 - 12:00 Philippe Huneman: Distinguishing Among Causal Explanations in Biology: Mechanical and Topological Explanations (Chair: Longworth)
12:00 - 14:00 Lunch: Le Coupe-Chou
pm: Salle Weill (14-18)
14.00 - 15:15 Francis Longworth: Counterfactual and Mechanistic Approaches to Indeterministic Causation (Chair: Drouet)
15:15 - 16:30 Jaakko Kuorikoski: How to be a Humean Interventionist (Chair: Drouet)
16:30 - 16:45 Coffee Break
16:45 - 18:00 Raffaella Campaner: Mechanisms, Counterfactuals and Multilevel Explanations (Chair: Kistler)
Rooms: Thursday am: Salle Cavaillès. Thursday pm: Salle des Résistants. Friday am: Salle Beckett. Friday pm: Salle Weill.
Conference Hotel: Hôtel Perreyve, 63 rue Madame, 75006 PARIS - FRANCE. Tel. :+33 (0) 1 45 48 35 01. (MW and RC will be located at the Hôtel des 3 Collèges).
Route from Hotel Perreyve to Ecole Normale Superieure (Google Maps).
Transport: Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Hotel/Ecole Normale Superieure: Take RER 'B' to Luxembourg.
