The Center for Philosophy of Science invites you to our Featured Former Fellow Lecture presented by:   

 Armond Duwell

February 20 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EST

Title: Problems and Possibilities: A Theory of Scientific Understanding

Abstract:  In this talk I will discuss joint work with Soazig Le Bihan on a novel theory of scientific understanding.   Extant theories of scientific understanding fail to be suitably comprehensive. Either they fail to countenance relevant kinds of scientific understanding, e.g.~non-explanatory understanding or practical understanding, or they fail to accommodate relevant targets of understanding, e.g.~scientific theories or how to generate data about a phenomenon.  Our “problems and possibilities ” (P&P) view surmounts these problems by providing a unifying analysis of different kinds of understanding.  Our view is that scientific understanding is fundamentally pragmatic. Scientific practice consists in scientific activities that are pursued to solve various problems.  The very same problem can be solved in a variety of ways.  Taking the actions required to solve our problems is constitutive of some understanding.  Comparing the various possibly ways of solving our problems to themselves or other things can afford inferences about the target of understanding, which, when made, also constitute understanding of the target.  The variety of possible means for solving our problems often support incompatible inferences about a target of understanding, hence our P&P view of understanding.

1. Where are you now?

I’m at the University of Montana, Missoula

2. What are you working on?

I’m working on a book on scientific understanding with Soazig Le Bihan.

3. Favorite memory of The Center.

I don’t think that I have any one memory that stands out at the Center.  The intensity of intellectual stimulation, the distraction-free time for work, and camaraderie stick out in my mind.  Having been a grad student at Pitt, it was a homecoming as well.

4. Greatest non-professional achievement since leaving the Center (can be anything from running a marathon to organizing your sock drawer!).

My daughter, who suffers from a chronic illness, missed 283 class periods in the first semester of her freshman year in high school.  My wife and I were able to support her in ways that enabled her to get straight A s nonetheless.

 5. Best book/movie/tv you’ve seen lately.

Tacoma Fire Department is certainly not the best TV show I’ve seen lately, but it makes me laugh out loud every time I watch an episode.

This talk is online-only. Follow along via Zoom: https://pitt.zoom.us/j/95989267952

This talk will also be available live streamed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRp47ZMXD7NXO3a9Gyh2sg.