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)

Sep

30

Video available HEREThe Situating Science Atlantic Node is pleased to support the LIVE STREAMING of the Science and Technology Studies (STS) 4th annual lecture at St. Thomas University in Fredericton... [+]

(Wed)

Apr

20

The Canada Council for the Arts awards Dr. Michael Hayden of University of British Columbia  a Killam prize. Hayden was a Trust in the New Sciences National Lecture Series presenter.From the... [+]

(Fri)

Apr

08

April 8-10, 2011 York UniversityKeynote Lecture: Cohort Spaces: Reflections on Creating Knowledge About India and China Victoria Marshall, Assistant Professor of Urban Design at Parsons the New... [+]

(Thu)

Jan

06

Paula Findlen (History, Stanford): After the Trial: Galileo, His Early Biographers and the Catholic Church. January 6, 2011, 5:00 pm. Green College Coach House. This talk explores the problem... [+]

(Thu)

Dec

02

Asceticism, Truth, and Politics in early-twentieth century Italian pragmatism Francesca Bordogna Department of History, Northwestern University   Thursday, 2 December 2010 5-6:30 pm... [+]

(Mon)

Nov

08

  Science and Society Lecture by Steven Meyer (Department of English, Washington University in St Louis). 4:30 pm, Monday, November 8, 2010 in Peter Wall Institute Conference Rooms. In... [+]

(Thu)

Aug

05

The Current interviews Dr. Brain on empathy and science. The discussion follows-up on the "Varieties of Empathy in Science, Art, and Culture" Workshop at UBC Oct. 10-11, 2009. ... [+]

(Thu)

Jun

17

University of British Columbiaimage: Boris Khramtsov [+]

(Thu)

Jun

17

Note: This workshop also has strong connections with the theme Scientific Communication and its Publics Location: Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS. This two-day workshop brought together... [+]

(Wed)

Oct

14

In celebration of the anniversary of the publication of Charles' Darwin's On the Origin of Species, this workshop included a set of three public evening lectures with over 400 in attendance... [+]

(Sat)

Oct

10

The recent discovery of mirror neurons, which fire in a macaque monkey when the monkey either observes or performs a given movement, has ushered in a resurgence of interest in the meanings and... [+]