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)

Mar

28

From misconduct to bias, through the hierarchy of the sciences Daniele Fanelli, École de bibliothéconomie et des sciences de l'information, Université de Montréalvendredi 28 mars 2014 De 12:30 à 14:... [+]

(Thu)

Mar

27

INCUBATOR Lab welcomes the Technoscience Salon to Windsor! Join us for a round table discussion, fun and prizes with theorists and artists! Alter Life: Biology + Technology + Art? Thursday, March 27... [+]

(Thu)

Mar

27

Professor Matthew Nisbet of the School of Communication at American University will present "Disruptive Ideas: Public Intellectuals and their Arguments for Action on Climate Change" on Thursday,... [+]

(Mon)

Mar

24

SF:  String Figures, Multispecies Muddles, Staying with the Trouble Donna Harraway, Distinguished Professor Emerita in the History of Consciousness Department at the University of California,... [+]

(Fri)

Mar

21

Gaia, Anthropology and the Law Bruno Latour (Sciences-Po, Paris) Friday, 21 March 2014, 4pm (ven 21 mars, 16h): Moot Court (Law building, 3644 r Peel, room 100) Sponsored by McGill Faculty of Law's... [+]

(Tue)

Mar

18

After IVF: The New Anthropology of Reproduction York: Mar. 18, 2014, 12:30Speaker: Sarah Franklin (Cambridge) http://www.sociology.cam.ac.uk/contacts/staff/profiles/sfranklin.htmlSeminar Series... [+]

(Thu)

Mar

13

Malthus or Mutualism? A Reassessment of the Politics of Evolution in Victorian England Piers Hale, Deparrment of History of Science, University of Oklahoma Th. March 13 5pm Coach House, Green... [+]

(Thu)

Feb

27

“The Concept of ‘Race’ and/in the History of Science and Medicine” Evelynn Hammonds, Harvard University History of Science Department February 27 12:30pm Buchanan Tower, Room 1197   [+]

(Fri)

Feb

14

Please join us for the next Technoscience Salon event of 2013-2014! Event :: IMPERIAL DEBRIS Speakers :: Gregg Mitman (University of Wisconsin-Madison) Denielle Elliott (York University)... [+]

(Thu)

Feb

13

STS COLLOQUIUM THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13 4:00 - 5:30, BUCHANAN TOWER 1197 JILL FELLOWS, UBC ARTS ONE "PARRHESIA, PLURALISM AND POLAR BEARS" In this paper I will examine how trust-building might be... [+]

(Thu)

Feb

13

Cinematic Journeys: The Many Lives of an Expedition Film Never Made York: Feb, 13, 2014 12:30Speaker: Gregg Mitman (Wisconsim-Madison) http://gmitman.com/Seminar Series details:Entanglements of... [+]

(Thu)

Feb

06

The Index Card as Thinking Machine: Media, Memory and Writing in Hans Blumenberg Thursday, 6 February 2014, 5:30pm: Arts West W-215 Cornelius Borck (Lübeck) Co-sponsored with the department of Art... [+]

(Thu)

Feb

06

Professor Susan Mattern, Department of History, University of Georgia "Galen’s Anxious Patients: Lupe as Anxiety Disorder" Green College, Coach House Thursday, February 6 5:00 - 6:30, with reception... [+]

(Thu)

Jan

16

Eric Johnson, Department of History, "A Historical Epistemology of Empathy" Thursday, January 16, 4:00 - 5:30 pm, Buchanan Tower 1197 Abstract: Much overlooked in Darwin's theory of natural... [+]

(Thu)

Jan

09

Signal Achievements: Hans Reichenbach on Radio and on Radio Dr. Alan Richardson, Philosophy, UBC January 9, 5:00 - 6:30pm Green College, UBC"The style of modern science has gradually taken on the... [+]