The Importance of Concepts in Scientific Practice

This episode features Caleb Hazelwood, philosopher of science and PhD candidate, talking on the topic of Scientific Metaphysics. 

As Caleb explains, ‘scientific metaphysics’ refers to coming to grips with what ‘really is’ in the world – and being crystal clear about the concepts we use to describe natural phenomena and how they interact.  For example, Caleb talks about the importance of differentiating between entities we consider stable across the universe – such as the elements  – compared with more space-bound entities – such as biological species.

While exploring such fundamental questions may appear difficult and abstract, Caleb does a wonderful job in showing how debates such as these provide for fruitful interactions between scientific practice and philosophical reasoning. 

See the following links for more on the topic:
·       Caleb Hazelwood - https://calebhazelwood.com/
·       Catherine Kendig - https://www.canr.msu.edu/people/catherine-kendig
·       Yasmin Haddad - https://www.yasminhaddad.com/
·       Thomas Pradeu on ‘Individuality and the Microbiome’ - https://invivomagazine.com/en/focus/interview/article/350/you-can-identify-individuals-based-on-their-unique-features-of-their-microbiomes
·       Thomas Pradeu on Philosophy of Immunology - https://newbooksnetwork.com/philosophy-of-immunology
·       Caleb’s review of Charles Pence’s The Causal Structure of Natural Selection - http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/21945/
·       James Woodward – Causation with a Human Face
·       James Woodward – ‘Causation and Manipulability’ SEP - https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/causation-mani/
·       ‘Metaphysics of Science’ (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
·       Aeon article by John Dupré on ‘Science-based Metaphysics’

A full transcript of the episode can be found

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This podcast would not be possible without the support of School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne and the Hansen Little Public Humanities Grant scheme.

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