SocPhilSciPract · @SocPhilSciPract
10th Feb 2016 from TwitLonger
CFP: Spontaneous Generations issue on Scientific Realism
Call For Papers - Spontaneous Generations: A Journal For the History and Philosophy of Science, Volume 9
We are pleased to announce a call for papers to volume nine of Spontaneous Generations, under the theme “Contemporary Issues Concerning Scientific Realism: The Future of the Scientific Realism Debate.”
Scientific realism has long been a favourite topic for philosophers, historians, and sociologists of science. In its simplest formulation, scientific realism is the idea that our most widely accepted scientific theories give an (at least approximately) true picture of reality. This view is common not only among academics, but also among working scientists and the wider population in the West. Philosophical discussion of issues concerning scientific realism has been ongoing and fruitful for centuries, but many important issues remain unresolved. Thus, this issue of Spontaneous Generations will be dedicated to investigating the details, variations, and plausibility of scientific realism and its many rivals, as they relate to other topics in the history and philosophy of science.
The issue will involve a mix of peer-reviewed and invited articles. The peer-reviewed articles will be divided into two sections: general submissions and focused discussion. The focused discussion articles will narrow in on and attempt to resolve a specific issue concerning contemporary scientific realism, such as a case study or a response to a previously published argument, and will generally not exceed 3000 words. The general submission pieces will be anywhere from 3000-8000 words, and may be on any topic related to the central theme.
Confirmed contributors include: Theodore Arabatzis, Brian Baigrie, Nancy Cartwright, Anjan Chakravartty, Robin Hendry, Paul Hoyningen-Huene, James Ladyman, Timothy Lyons, Kerry McKenzie, Alan Musgrave, Dean Peters, Stathis Psillos, Howard Sankey, Bas van Fraassen, and K. Brad Wray.
Appropriate topics for submissions include (but are not limited to) the following:
the historical accuracy of various case studies appealed to by realists and anti-realists
the notions of “scientific progress” assumed by scientific realists and anti-realists
the nature and role of truth in scientific theorizing and model-building
the role of non-epistemic virtues in the assessment of scientific theories
the role of realist or anti-realist assumptions in science policy debates
the role of ontological commitments in scientific practice throughout history
epistemological and doxastic voluntarism in relation to scientific realism
what it means for one scientific theory or ontology to be more “fundamental” than another
Submissions on any of these topics, or any other topics relating to scientific realism, will be gladly received and considered for peer-reviewed. The deadline for submission is July 15th, 2016. We expect to publish a wide variety of high quality, original, and novel pieces from both established and up-and-coming historians and philosophers of science, covering a wide variety of topics relating to scientific realism. Papers from graduate students and members of the philosophical community from under-represented groups are especially encouraged.
Please visit the journal website to submit a manuscript:
http://spontaneousgenerations.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/SpontaneousGenerations
Online link to this CFP:
http://spontaneousgenerations.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/SpontaneousGenerations/announcement/view/512
For inquiries, contact the managing editor Curtis Forbes at curtis.forbes@utoronto.ca