Matters of Substance:
Philosophical, Medical and Scientific Perspectives, 1700-1900
Durham University
St Chad's College
28-30 August 2006
Objectives
The objectives of the conference are: (i) to identify the conceptual,
theoretical and experimental context of the identification of the
elements in 18th-, 19th- and 20th-century chemistry; (ii) to identify
the conceptual, theoretical, experimental and clinical context of
substances in 18th-, 19th- and 20th-century medicine and pharmacology;
(iii) to identify central historiographical issues and sources in the
investigation of the development of the concept of chemical substance;
(iv) to identify and address, through the work of historical and
contemporary philosophers, key philosophical questions connected with
the concept of chemical substance, which will include differing
conceptions of substance identity and its relationship to microphysical
structure and experimental methods, and the distinction between
elements, compounds and mixtures.
Rational
The concept of a chemical substance is central to the foundations of
both the physical and biomedical sciences. This conference will make
and renew contacts between philosophers and historians of science and
medicine working on this relatively neglected topic, and thereby
stimulate further research and interdisciplinary collaboration. The
session topics are as follows:
Session 1: The Elements and Chemical Practice
Session 2: Historiographical Issues of Substance: Sources and Practices
Session 3: Medical Substances
Session 4: Philosophical Issues of Substance
Speakers
Dr. Hasok Chang (UCL), Prof D. M. Knight (Durham), Prof Helge Kragh
(Aarhus), Prof Andreas-Holger Maehle (Durham), Dr. Jonathan Simon
(Institut Louis Pasteur), Georgette Taylor (UCL), Dr. M.D. Eddy
(Durham), PD Dr. Ursula Klein (Max Planck Institute for the History of
Science), Dr. Robin Hendry (Durham), Prof E.J. Lowe (Durham), Dr Paul
Needham (Stockholm) and Dr John Christie (Leeds).
Website
http://www.dur.ac.uk/m.d.eddy/Matters_of_Substance.html
Registration
The registration fee the conference is £30. Registration forms will be
posted to the workshop's webpage shortly. Attendees will be able to
book accommodation and meals in St Chad's College.
For more information, please contact:
Dr Matthew D Eddy ([log in to unmask]) or Dr Robin F Hendry
([log in to unmask])
This conference is being sponsored by the British Academy, Durham
University's Dean of Arts Research Fund and the British Society for the
Philosophy of Science.
--
Dr Matthew D Eddy, Department of Philosophy, Durham University, 50 Old Elvet, Durham, DH1 3HN, United Kingdom. (44) 191 334 6550. http://www.dur.ac.uk/m.d.eddy/
