Symposium: The Possibility of Metaphysics: Between Inductive, Analytic, and Transcendental Arguments (January 31 - February 1, 2019)
Description
In the last century, metaphysics in the traditional sense became subject of radical scepticism. One strategy to save metaphysics from sceptical doubts is bringing metaphysical investigation closer to scientific practice. This workshop is intended to explore the Kantian question whether metaphysics is possible as a “science”, and if so, whether it can or should be conducted on the basis of scientific methods and findings or whether it can still be justified as an aprioristic enterprise. A Kantian strategy to counter scepticism is the use of transcendental arguments. Questions of particular interest are – among others – the following ones: How can metaphysics be justified? Is metaphysics an aprioristic discipline or should it be pursued on the basis of scientific findings or argumentative methods used in the sciences such as induction and abduction? How do transcendental arguments relate to inferences made in the sciences? What is their relevance for modern metaphysical approaches such as naturalised metaphysics or the Canberra plan? Which role do empirical data and empirical methods play in contemporary metaphysics and can their use in metaphysics be justified?
Speakers and Programme
Day 1 | January 31, 2019 |
10:00-10:15 | Opening |
10:15-11:15 | Matti Eklund: Alien Structure |
11:15-11:30 | Coffee Break |
11:30-12:30 | Kristina Engelhard: Metaphysics as Modelling in Kant |
12:30-14:30 | Lunch Break |
14:30-15:30 | Cord Friebe: Kant's Lightweight Ontological Realism |
15:30-15:45 | Coffee Break |
15:45-16:45 | Sophie Allen: Is there Really any Order? |
16:45-17:00 | Coffee Break |
17:00-18:00 | Thomas Hofweber: Inescapable Concepts |
19:00 | Dinner |
Day 2 | February 1, 2019 |
10:15-11:15 | Christian J. Feldbacher-Escamilla: Abduction and Transcendental Deduction |
11:15-11:30 | Coffee Break |
11:30-12:30 | Gabriele Gava: Kant, the Third Antinomy and Transcendental Arguments |
12:30-14:30 | Lunch Break |
14:30-15:30 | Brigitte Falkenburg: Kant's Experiment of Pure Reason |
15:30-15:45 | Coffee Break |
15:45-16:45 | Holger Lyre: Structural Metaphysics and Mental Representation |
16:45-17:00 | Coffee Break |
17:00-18:00 | Barbara Vetter: The Many Kinds of Metaphysical Modality |
19:00 | Dinner |
Date and Venue
The workshop took place from January 31st to February 1st 2019 at the University of Duesseldorf, Schloss Mickeln: Alt Himmelgeist 25, 40589 Düsseldorf
Organisation and Funding
The workshop was organised by the DFG funded research group Inductive Metaphysics the goal of which is to establish how empirical sources and inductive forms of inference play a role in metaphysical research.
- Organisers: Kristina Engelhard (University of Technology Dortmund), Christian J. Feldbacher-Escamilla (DCLPS, University of Duesseldorf), Alexander Gebharter (University of Groningen)
- Website: <http://dclps.phil.hhu.de/possmet/>
- Contact: <christian.feldbacher-escamilla@hhu.de>
- Funding: German Research Foundation (DFG), research unit: Inductive Metaphysics FOR 2495