Please join us on Friday, January 19th for our Philosophy Department Colloquium:

 

How the Laws of Logic Lie

with Professor Gillian Russell

Friday, January 19^th • 3 PM – 5PM • Cohen 402

 

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Abstract: Nancy Cartwright’s 1983 book How the Laws of Physics Lie argued that theories of physics often make use of idealisations, and that as a result many of these theories were not true. The present paper looks at idealization in logic and argues that, at least sometimes, the laws of logic fail to be true. That might be taken as a kind of skepticism, but I argue rather that idealisation is a legitimate tool in logic, just as in physics, and recognising this frees logicians up to use false laws where these are helpful.  

The event will start at 3pm in room 402 of Cohen Hall, with a reception to follow.