Investigations in Philosophy of Cosmology

We are a group of physicists, philosophers, and mathematicians on the faculties of five universities (Rutgers, Columbia, NYU,
Yale, UC Santa Cruz) whose research includes investigations in the philosophy and foundations of physics and cosmology.
We are involved in a project dedicated to exploring foundational issues in cosmology and developing a community of philosophers,
scientists, and scholars  working in philosophy of cosmology. Our project includes conferences, a summer school, lectures and
seminars. On this page you will find links to our research, to a blog discussing issues in philosophy of cosmology and other
activities of our group and its members.

US/UK Conferece Talks

The joint US/UK Templeton Cosmology group conference in Tenerife was a success! Keep an eye on this page (and the 'What We Do' section of this website) for updated media. Right now you can check out the slides from all of the talks here. Soon we'll have links to videos of the talks as well.

Structure in Physics April 26-27

Structure in Physics is a 2-day conference hosted by Rutgers University and bringing together leading researchers to discuss the metaphysical implications of physics.  The conference will examine the relationship between metaphysics and physics by discussing the metaphysical implications of quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.  The conference will take place Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27. For more information, see the conference webpage.

Note: the concluding roundtable previously scheduled for Sunday, April 28, has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict.

Distinguishing Varieties of Relativistic Causality

Tomorrow, March 28, from 4:00-6:00, Professor Jeremy Butterfield of Trinity College, Cambridge, will deliver "Distinguishing Varieties of Relativistic Causality."  The talk will take place at 5 Washington Place.  For more information, check out this flyer or the New York/ New Jersey Philosophy of Science Discussion Group's webpage.

Call for Applications to Summer Institute in Philosophy and Cosmology

Call for Applications

Summer Institute/School in Philosophy of Cosmology UC Santa Cruz (UCSC) June 23-July 14, 2013

Directors: David Albert (Columbia), Barry Loewer (Rutgers), Joel Primack (UCSC)

The Multi-university Templeton Project on Philosophy of Cosmology will conduct a three week summer institute in philosophy of cosmology at the University of California Santa Cruz. The purpose of the institute is to promote understanding of and research in issues in the philosophy of cosmology. Among the topics to be discussed are philosophical foundations of statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and relativity theory, the direction of time, questions of whether space and time are fundamental or emergent, reasons for believing in a multi-verse, anthropic arguments, the metaphysics of laws and chance, why anything at all exists. There will also be lectures on recent developments in cosmology intended for participants who are not cosmologists.

Read more: Call for Applications to Summer Institute in Philosophy and Cosmology

New Postdoctoral Fellows

Three new postdoctoral fellows are now joining are project.  We're excited to welcome Anna Ijjas, Ward Struyve, and Tiziana Vistarini to the team!

Philosophy of Cosmology Project discussed in the CHE

There's an interesting article in the most reacent Chronicle of Higher Education discussing Templeton grants to philosophers and scientists, with special emphasis on this one.  If you'd like to know more about the history of the Templeton foundation, or about the process by which our group became affiliated with the foundation, it's definitely worth a read.  You can find it here.

Parallel Project in Oxford and Cambridge

For more information about the parallel project in philosophy of cosmology at Oxford and Cambridge, please see the following webpage: philcosmo.physics.ox.ac.uk/  We're very excited about this promising partnership.

A Universe From Nothing?

In 'A Universe From Nothing,' Lawrence M. Krauss argues that quantum mechanics can explain why there is something rather than nothing. In this review in the New York Times, David Albert argues that Kraus' arguments fall far shorter than he intends.  For a full discussion look here.

Templeton Grant Funds Project in Philosophy of Cosmology at Oxford and Cambridge

See the announcement here.