CFA: Workshop “Causation and Complexity”, University of Salzburg

The Philosophy Department (GW) at the University of Salzburg will host a workshop on Causation and Complexity 

29-30 September, 2022 at the University of Salzburg (Franziskanergasse 1, 5020)

In 2021, Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann, and Giorgio Parisi received the Nobel Prize in physics for their work on complex systems. Such systems are not only one of the major areas of research in contemporary physics, but they also span almost all scientific disciplines and raise outstanding philosophical questions. For instance: How shall we define a complex system precisely? What is the relationship between emergence and complexity? And, how shall we interpret causal relationships in complex systems? Although the first two questions have received a great deal of attention in science and philosophy, the relationship between causation and complexity remains to be understood.

This workshop will be a major opportunity to address the problem of causality and complexity from an interdisciplinary perspective. It proposes to consider contemporary and traditional questions that remain open in science and philosophy. For instance: How can consciousness have a causal influence in the complex physical world? Can complex systems be the object of standard statistical causal analysis? Do we have a specific theory of causation that is especially suited to uncover structural dependencies and correlations in complex systems? Are there specific causal mechanisms in complex systems that are not present in other natural systems? Should we assume that causality is a key factor in the formation of order from disorder?

Confirmed invited speakers of this workshop are:

-Jennifer Jhun  (Duke)

-Samantha Kleinberg  (Stevens Institute of Technology)

-James Ladyman  (Bristol)

-Klaus Mainzer (TUM, Munich)

-James Ladyman  (Bristol)

-Michael Strevens  (NYU)

-Karoline Wiesner  (Potsdam)

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

We will accept contributed talks. Although scholars at different stages of their careers are welcomed to apply, we especially encourage submissions from graduate students and junior scholars. Accepted speakers will have travel expenses covered.

To submit a proposal, please submit a 500 word abstract, including your name and affiliation at https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=ccc1

The deadline for submissions: July 25.

Notification to speakers:  July 31.

For further questions, you can contact Patricia Palacios: patricia.palacios@sbg.ac.at or Gregorie Dupuis-Mc Donald: gregorie.dupuis-mc-donald@stud.sbg.ac.at

* This workshop is sponsored by the Kreisel Institut and the Foundational Questions Institute (FQXi).