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

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Nov

01

Th. Nov. 1                 3:30-4:30pm: "The Post-Genomic Genome" Dalhousie University Department of Biology seminar series. 5th Floor... [+]

(Tue)

Oct

30

The Situating Science Strategic Knowledge Cluster, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and its partners are pleased to announce a special public evening lecture... [+]

(Tue)

Oct

30

Speaker: Arun Bala, National University of Singapore Title: Do Dialogical Histories of the Scientific Revolution Require Rethinking Scientific Method? Tuesday October 30 2012, 12:30-2:00 P.M.... [+]

(Fri)

Oct

26

Friday Oct. 26th 3:30-5:30pm: "Reengineering Philosophy for Limited Beings - a roundtable discussion of William Wimsatt's book led by Evelyn Fox Keller" Chair: Richmond Campbell, Department of... [+]

(Tue)

Oct

23

"The Story of Mr. Wright" with post-production discussion led by Dr. Harrington. Tuesday, Oct. 23rd 7PM Neptune Theatre Studio, 1593 Argyle St., Hfx, NS. Register for free admission by Friday Oct.... [+]

(Tue)

Oct

23

Culture in the Brain and Under the Skin: What Historians Know about Illness Experience and Why it MattersDr. Anne Harrington, Harvard University. Tuesday, Oct. 23rd 1PM *Room change to Classroom 3... [+]

(Thu)

Oct

18

Thursday, Oct. 18, 5:00-6:30pm, Buchanan Tower Room 1197 ALIRIO ROSALES, Department of Philosophy, UBC Scientific theories are often contrasted with narratives. Theories are general; narratives are... [+]

(Thu)

Oct

18

Oct. 18th, 2012 12:15pm-2pm: "Language, Gender, and Science." Seton 404/405 (faculty lounge), Mount St. Vincent University, 166 Bedford Highway.          Hosted by... [+]

(Tue)

Oct

16

Tues. Oct 16, 2012    2:45pm-3:45pm: Biology module public presentation "Rethinking the Meaning of Biological Information" 5th floor lounge, Life Sciences Centre, Dalhousie University... [+]

(Fri)

Apr

20

The Politics of Care in TechnoscienceOrganizers: Aryn Martin, Natasha Myers & Ana Viseu Date: April 20-22, 2012 Location: York University, Toronto, Canada This is a closed event. Keynote is... [+]

(Mon)

Mar

19

Monday, March 19,  4-6 p.m. :: MILIEUThis is a joint Technoscience Salon/ Subtle Technologies event Presenter :: Hannah Landecker (UCLA) Metabolism and Milieu: Eating as Inter-... [+]

(Fri)

Mar

09

Friday March 9, 4-6 p.m. :: TOPOLOGYPresenter :: Celia Lury (University of Warwick) Inventive Methods: Moving Knowledge Discussant :: Sha Xin Wei (Concordia University)... [+]

(Tue)

Nov

15

VIDEO HERE (UNEDITED)EVENT BLOGS HEREThis event was streamed live all day and we facilitated online questions and blogs.Situating Science, and the University of Ottawa's Institute for Science,... [+]

(Wed)

Nov

02

Support for this talk has been provided in part by the SSHRC Cluster Grant on Situating Science.The Science Technology and Society Program is pleased to present: Josipa Petrunic , Postdoctoral... [+]

(Thu)

Oct

06

Eric Schliesser (Department of Philosophy, Ghent University) will give a talk on "How Uncertainty Became Randomness in Economics." Thursday, October 6, 2011, 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm. Green... [+]