STS Seminar Series 2011-12
Department of Science and Technology Studies
University College London
All seminars take place at 5.00pm
Venue: Galton Lecture Theatre, 1-19 Torrington Place
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/locations/ucl-maps
Monday 14 November
Matt Spencer
(Goldsmiths Centre for Cultural Studies, University of London)
Representation, Simulation and the Epistemic Thing
In this talk I will present my ethnographic research into scientific
practice in computational fluid dynamics, focussing on the question of
the role of representation in simulation. While simulations appear on
first glance to represent their empirical or ideal "target" system in a
simple binary relation, practices of simulation turn out to be more
complex, success turning not just on the effective representation of a
target, but simultaneously on the effective representation of the
continuous mathematics of the equations (e.g. Navier-Stokes) that
theoretically represent fluid flow in general, by the discrete
mathematical system embodied in the code. Computational physicists
negotiate between several different kinds of representation through the
course of their work, relationships which form an integral aspect of the
problem they are studying.
I will take a couple of particular case studies to illustrate my
argument, and suggest that the questions they raise about representation
may provide grounds for dialogue between analytic and continental
philosophical traditions. I am particularly interested in the way that
Hans-Jorg Rheinberger's theory of the epistemic thing, which is
influenced by both historical epistemology and phenomenology, may be
articulate with recent calls for a pragmatic view of representation, for
example the work of Mauricio Suarez. Although many from the continental
tradition tend to begin from a rejection of the concept of
representation (something due in large part to the influence of
Heidegger and Deleuze), this is usually based on a rather simplified and
stereotyped concept, and there remains plenty of space for engagement
with more subtle theories. I argue that Suarez's deflationary concept
may complement Rheinberger's theory of scientific practice, especially
since it places emphasis on the context of use, and this synthesis may
allow us to more effectively trace the several different kinds of
representation that are simultaneously at play within computational
physics research.
Forthcoming seminars:
Monday 28 November
Thomas Rose
(Fachhochschule Muenster, Germany/ STS Honorary Associate)
The Attitude of Trade Unions towards Science
Monday 12 December
Bill MacLehose
(STS, UCL)
The Sliding Scale of Sleep in The Middle Ages
--
Dr. Chiara Ambrosio
Teaching Fellow in Philosophy of Science
Department of Science and Technology Studies
University College London
Gower Street
London WC1E 6BT
Tel. (+44) 02076790166
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/staff/ambrosio
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/basc/
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