Objective
The project aims at providing a novel general theory of scientific thought experiments (TEs) and lies within the fields of general history and philosophy of science (HPS). TEs are epistemic tools, are conducted in the “laboratory of the mind” and are found in nearly all intellectual fields. Scientific TEs are puzzling to most philosophers: arguably TEs aim at providing “new” knowledge about the world, but without resorting to new empirical data. There is a vast literature on TEs, however, in its majority, remains “reductive” and “restrictive”, built on a-historically analysed case studies and is disconnected from the literature on real experiments (REs), scientific models (SMs) and computer simulations (CSs). The project is driven by a main hypothesis – TEs, in different scientific fields, should be analysed as a sui generis tool – and shall be divided into two objectives (O1 and O2): Towards a general theory of TEs (O1) and TEs vs REs, CSs and SMs (O2). Work on O1 shall built on a recent epistemic account of TEs in physics defended by El Skaf and on a new historical analysis of TEs in physics, biology and mathematics. Work on O2 shall consist of a comparative analysis of TEs, REs, CSs and SMs. The project thus relies on the scientific, historical, and philosophical methodology of integrated HPS. The project shall benefit from Werndl’s expertise in general philosophy of science and SMs, Weber’s expertise in general philosophy of science and experimentation in biology, including TEs, and El Skaf’s expertise in integrated HPS and the epistemology of TEs. Furthermore, we shall develop collaborations with researchers with a wide range of expertise, organise a series of seminars and an international workshop. Finally, this study, by providing a general theory of scientific TEs which identifies their common structure (i.e. their common reasoning pattern), will be applicable to TEs in several intellectual fields beyond natural sciences, where TEs are commonly used.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- humanities philosophy, ethics and religion philosophy epistemology
- humanities history and archaeology history
- natural sciences mathematics applied mathematics mathematical model
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
5020 SALZBURG
Austria
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.