Historical epistemology and ontology

Historical epistemology and ontology involve the long-term historical examination of the fundamentals of a scientific worldview, the principles of justification, the evolution of hypothesis testing, the place and meaning of evidence. Research in this area is concerned with the historical development of notions (as well as normative dimensions) of evidence, proof, objectivity, classification, concept formation, issues of realism and anti-realism, and the meaning of scientific objects and the development of disciplines and styles of reasonings. Philosophy of science in Canada is strikingly historically informed; the philosophical and social interests of the historical actors is an important topic within history of science in Canada.

The changing norms of scientific knowledge-formation is an area of increasing interest in the social, philosophical and rhetorical study of science, technology and medicine in Canada, and Canadian scholars are amongst the leaders in the field internationally.

The cluster will combine these interests, providing new opportunities for unique inter- and trans-disciplinary research projects in, for example, the rise of evidence-based medicine, the standards of public proof of the reliability and safety of biotechnology, and the norms and ownership of scientific knowledge. Here the cluster will open up engagement with practicing scientists, as have the pioneering efforts of Social Studies of Medicine at McGill, the Philosophy of Science Research Group at Western, the Perimeter Institute at Waterloo, the Evolution Studies Group at Dalhousie or the new Pacific Institute for Theoretical Physics at UBC.

Upcoming Theme News and Events

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Past Theme News and Events

(Fri)

Jan

09

Data's Affects and EffectsSalon Theme: This Salon extends the theme of “Activating Evidence” to think through data’s effects as well as its affects. It considers practices and infrastructures of data... [+]

(Fri)

Nov

28

Friday November 28 :: Queering EvidenceARTSCAPE YOUNGPLACE, 180 Shaw Street, 4-6 p.m.Pt 3 of the Activating Evidence Technoscience Salon [+]

(Thu)

Nov

27

Ian Hesketh (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre for the History of European Discourses, University of Queensland) will be speaking on: "The Story of Big History" Thursday, November 27th, 4:00-5:... [+]

(Thu)

Nov

13

Commodity Violence: Thinking Through Injury and Illness in the Age of ConsumptionLochlann Jain, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, Stanford University Thursday, November 13, 2014 @ 5 PM... [+]

(Fri)

Oct

24

Science and Warfare – Panel discussion Friday October 24th, 12pm Tory Building 2-58, University of Alberta With Shauna Devine (Western University), Andrew Ede (University of Alberta) and Susan Smith... [+]

(Thu)

Oct

23

How the U.S. Civil War (1861-1865) Shaped Modern Medicine Shauna Devine ( Western University) Thursday October 23rd,  3.30PM HUMANITIES CENTRE L-2, University of AlbertaShauna Devine is an... [+]

(Fri)

Oct

10

Erasures and Fabulations Pt 1 of Activating Evidence Technoscience Salon ARTSCAPE YOUNGPLACE, 180 Shaw Street, 4-6 p.m. [+]

(Fri)

Sep

26

Calgary Summit of Philosophers of Science Future Approaches for Philosophy of Biology September 26-27, 2014 For full information, click here. The Alberta Node is pleased to support student... [+]

(Sat)

Sep

06

An anonymous donor has provided the University of Montreal with 1.5 million dollars (Canadian) to fund the Aesop Chair in Philosophy. It’s first holder is philosopher of science Frédéric... [+]

(Thu)

Jul

17

The Frankfurt School: The Critique of Capitalist Culture An Interdisciplinary Conference July 17 – 19, 2014 Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema, 149 West Hastings Street, Vancouver BC Free. Reserve a seat for... [+]

(Fri)

Apr

11

Prosocial attitudes and patterns of academic entrepreneurship Mark Freel, École de gestion TELFER, Université d'Ottawavendredi 11 avril 2014 salle N-8150Résumé : Drawing on survey data from 22,000 UK... [+]

(Thu)

Apr

10

Time on Device: Slot Machine Design and the Turn Away from Risk in Gambling Natasha Schull (MIT) Thursday, 10 April 2014, 5:30pm (jeu 10 avril, 17h30): McGill, Arts West W-215 (co-sponsored with... [+]

(Fri)

Apr

04

Event :: ONTOLOGIES Speakers :: Paul Nadasdy (Cornell University), Keiichi  Omura (Osaka University) Discussants :: Mark Vardy (Queen’s University), Petra Hroch (University of Alberta)... [+]

(Tue)

Apr

01

Following Chromosomes: Human Heredity in the Atomic Age    York: Apr. 1, 2014 12:30Speaker: Soraya de Chadarevian, UCLA http://www.history.ucla.edu/people/faculty?lid=4296Seminar... [+]

(Tue)

Apr

01

De l'exclusion à l'innovation théorique: le cas de l'éconophysique Christophe Schinckus, University of LeicesterRésumé : L'exposé portera sur l'exclusion de l'éconophysique par l'économie... [+]