An ESF Scientific Network

The emergence of modern physical theories in the second half of the 19th and in the first half of the 20th century has had a profound effect on philosophy: new physical theories forced one to re-think many old philosophical concepts and problems. The influence went also the other way: physics was in need of an analysis of its changing conceptual foundations, and philosophy contributed substantially and positively by clarifying and scrutinizing foundational issues in a way that has led to new physics. To a large extent, modern philosophy of science was born out of this mutually fertilizing intellectual interaction, and during the 20th century philosophy of science, and philosophy of physics in particular, have established themselves as major academic disciplines with increasingly distinct academic communities and institutions. Parallel to the fundamental modern physical theories, first of all quantum theory, the theory of relativity, and statistical mechanics, the philosophy of physics itself can be divided into subfields, centered around the conceptual and interpretational problems relating to the specific physical theories.

The aim of the Network is to create a framework that facilitates research and the dissemination of results in the philosophy of modern physics. The main activity planned by the Network is the organization of three conferences, on the philosophy and foundations of statistical physics, quantum theory, and space and time, respectively, and a number of smaller-scale workshops at European institutions. The present website will play an important part in the exchange and dissemination of information within the Network.

Philosophy of modern physics is interdisciplinary: the problems and their analyses combine elements from physics, mathematics, logic, philosophy and the history of science. Therefore, special attention will be paid to the creation of possibilities for interaction between experts from different disciplines.

The three modern physical theories that the Network's activities concentrate upon were born in Europe, and the conceptual and philosophical investigations of these theories were also begun in Europe. Europe has managed to remain competitive in this field, and a number of European scholars have distinguished themselves as international leaders in the discipline; and in a number of European university departments the philosophy of physics is taught on an internationally competitive level. The creation of the Network will help to increase Europe's competitiveness in the philosophy and foundations of modern physics and thereby to maintain a rich and important tradition in Europe's intellectual life.