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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

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Western University

Research Day (Arts & Humanities, FIMS, and Education)

Conference

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Historicity And Ecological Restoration, Eric Desjardins Mar 2010

Historicity And Ecological Restoration, Eric Desjardins

Research Day (Arts & Humanities, FIMS, and Education)

Traditional ecological restoration often relies on ideals of reversibility and balance of nature. I suggest that we should change these for a path-dependent view of natural processes. This conceptual shift also invites for philosophical and methodological revisions, such as favouring “futuristic” dynamic goals and alternative state models.


Idealization In Scientific Explanation, Robert Batterman, Nicolas Fillion, Robert Moir, James Overton Mar 2010

Idealization In Scientific Explanation, Robert Batterman, Nicolas Fillion, Robert Moir, James Overton

Research Day (Arts & Humanities, FIMS, and Education)

Many phenomena pose interesting “fundamental” questions for both physics and philosophy of science. Understanding and explanation often seem to require non-Galilean, essential idealizations. But idealizations are false. This fact suggests that we need to give up on the view that truth is a necessary condition for explanation.