Mechanisms and Causality in the Sciences

9-11 September 2009
University of Kent, Canterbury, UK

http://www.kent.ac.uk/secl/philosophy/jw/2009/macits/

Scientific explanation of some phenomenon often proceeds by elucidating the mechanism resposible for the phenomenon. But what is a mechanism, precisely? Does the notion of mechanism vary across the sciences? Causal relationships are also often invoked to explain; how do causal explanations relate to mechanistic explanations? More fundamentally, how do mechanisms relate to causality?

The three-day conference Mechanisms and Causality in the Sciences will explore these and related questions. We welcome submissions from scientists, philosophers, statisticians and others on these themes. If you would like to present a paper at the conference, please submit an abstract by 1st May. If you would like your paper to be published in the accompanying volume, please submit the full paper by 1st July.

Invited speakers include: Carl Craver, Stuart Glennan, Stephen Mumford, Stathis Psillos