Summer School: The Aim and Structure of Cosmological Theory
A number of challenging questions arise in contemporary cosmology, and philosophers can contribute constructively to answering them. Over the past century cosmologists have debated whether, for example, this field requires a distinctive methodology due to the unusual nature of its subject matter. In what sense is cosmology a “special case,” in terms of its aims, the nature of cosmological theories, or the ability to establish theories empirically? What, if anything, constrains theorizing about the early universe or regions of space and time so remote as to be beyond our observational ken? When should observational anomalies be taken as evidence that existing theory is incorrect, and when do they signal the discovery of new entities consistent with existing theory? How should we understand “spacetime geometry” in alternative theories of gravitation, or in theories according to which spacetime “emerges”? This summer school will provide a survey of several central questions, with some topics explored in more depth. The organizing theme of the summer school will be a new book manuscript by Smeenk & Weatherall called The Aim and Structure of Cosmological Theory. In addition to that manuscript, we will discuss background literature, alternative positions, and adjacent topics in other areas of philosophy of physics and philosophy of science.
Participants who would like to prepare themselves in the best way for the summer school can have a look at this annotated bibliography.
Chris Smeenk
James Owen Weatherall
James Owen Weatherall is Chancellor's Professor in the Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science at UC Irvine. He is the author of three previous books and more than 60 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters in philosophy of science, social epistemology, and mathematical physics. In addition to his recent work in philosophy of cosmology, his current projects include a biography of the mathematician John von Neumann and an NSF-funded project on symmetry, structure, and the laws of nature in classical field theory. He is Editor-in-Chief of the journal Philosophy of Science and Editor of the book series Cambridge Elements in Philosophy of Physics.
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Schedule of the Summer School
Here is a provisional schedule of the summer school.
Monday 23
3.30pm-4pm
Welcome
4pm-5.30pm
Introduction. A Map through the land of dragons (Halbach & Rossi)
6pm
Drinks at TBD
Tuesday 24
9.30am-10.30am
A theory of expressions (Halbach)
I introduce a theory of syntax that is sufficient for proving Gödel's diagonal lemma. No previous knowledge of the techniques commonly used in the lemma is assumed (such as coding of syntax, the theory of computability etc.).
10.30am-11am
Coffee break
11am-1pm
A theory of expressions (Halbach)
I will look at the connection of syntax-free paradoxes such as Russell's paradox and the paradoxes with diagonalization. I discuss whether truth, necessity, and other notions should be attributed to propositions, sentences, or other objects.
1pm-3pm
Lunch break
3pm-4pm
What is a semantic paradox? Some preliminary coordinates (Rossi)
I will present the difference between paradoxical sentences and paradoxical arguments, and that between proof-theoretic and model-theoretic characterizations of paradoxicality. I will also stress the philosophical significance of semantic paradoxes, for both the expressive power of truth (blind ascriptions, blind arguments), and truth-conditional semantics. Finally, I will present the Inclosure approach to paradoxes.
4.30pm-6.00pm
A. Frenzel - The Relevancy of Carnap's Syntax to the Study of Formal Languages and Semantic Paradoxes
P. Valencia Equy - Axiomatic Truthmaker Theory
A. Lupo - Another Paradox of Property Grounding
Wednesday 25
9.30am-10.30am
The paradoxes (Halbach)
The diagonal lemma is used to prove some basic results such as the liar paradox,Tarski's theorem on the undefinability of truth, and Montague's paradox.
10.30am-11am
Coffee break
11am-1pm
The paradoxes (Halbach)
Some refinements of the diagonal lemma are employed to prove Yablo's paradox, Visser's paradox of ill-founded truth hierarchies, and McGee's omega-inconsistency theorem.
1pm-3pm
Lunch break
3pm-4pm
Conceptions of paradoxicality (I) (Rossi)
The naive conception of paradoxicality, the discussion of paradoxicality and derivability, and the relations with Löb's Theorem are discussed before turning to the proof-theoretic conception, i.e. paradoxicality as non-normalizability.
4.30pm
Exercise and discussion session
Thursday 26
9.30am-10.30am
Possible-worlds analysis of the paradoxes (Halbach)
I discuss a possible-worlds analysis of the paradoxes.
10.30am-11am
Coffee Break
11am-12pm
Possible-worlds analysis of the paradoxes (Halbach)
The previously introduced analysis will be used to argue that ill-foundedness is at the root of many paradoxes.
12pm-2pm
Lunch break
2pm-4pm
Conceptions of paradoxicality (II) (Rossi)
After having introduced the graph-theoretic conception (structural features of paradoxical sentences), I turn to a discussion of ill-foundedness, focusing on circularity and infinitely descending chains.
4.30pm-5.30pm
T. Schuff - Weak Kleene Grounding and Revenge
A. Giglia - Was Cantor Right? How Potentialism Risks a Collapse Into Actualism
Friday 27
9.30am-10.30am
Conceptions of paradoxicality (III) (Rossi)
The Kripkean conception of paradoxicality is introduced, followed by the revision-theoretic one.
10.30am-11am
Coffee Break
11am-1pm
Truth! (Halbach)
A more powerful syntax theory is introduced that permits the study of axiomatic theories of truth such as basic disquotational theories, the Kripke-Feferman and Friedman-Sheard theory.
1pm-3pm
Lunch break 3pm-4pm
Wrap-up (Halbach & Rossi)
Besides the one on the first day, a second drink will be organized and offered on another evening, after the sessions. The precise day will be decided later on depending on the weather, for there is a nice walk to reach and come back from that place.
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Practical Information
a) Dates:
Monday 23 - Friday 27, June 2025b) Location:
Aula Multiuso
FTL Building
West Campus USI
Via Buffi, 13
Lugano, Switzerlandc) How to apply:
By sending a copy of the CV, a one-page motivation letter and a reference letter from a supervisor or colleague to [email protected].
The deadline for applications is February 15, 2025.d) Who can attend?
Application is open to both graduate students and early career researchers.e) Fees The fee for accepted participants is 400.- Swiss francs. It includes participation in the summer school, coffee breaks, 4 lunches and 2 drinks (one on the first evening and a second on another evening).
f) Certificate of participation:
Participants who wish to receive a certificate of participation can ask for it at the end of the last day of the Summer School.g) Housing Recommendations:
AirBnb
Lugano Youth Hostel
www.luganoyouthhostel.ch – ca. 30 CHF per night (bunkbed).
Via Cantonale 13, 6942 Savosa, Switzerland +41 91 966 27 28Montarina Hostel
www.montarina.com – ca. 90 CHF and 160CHF per night (shared rooms).
Via Montarina 1, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland +41 91 966 72 72Victoria au Lac
www.victoriahotel.ch/en/home - ca. 70 CHF per night (room).
Via Generale Guisan 3, 6900 Paradiso, Switzerland +41 91 994 20 31Hotel Pestalozzi
www.pestalozzi-lugano.ch/ - ca. 80 CHF per night (room) .
Piazza Indipendenza 9, 6901 Lugano, Switzerland +41 91 921 46 46Hotel Ceresio
www.hotelceresio.ch/ - ca. 80CHF per night (room).
Via Serafino Balestra 19, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland +41 91 923 10 44Ibis Budget Lugano Paradiso
https://all.accor.com/hotel/6781/index.en.shtml?utm_campaign=seo+maps&utm_medium=seo+maps&utm_source=google+Maps – ca. 100 CHF per night (bedroom).
Via Geretta 10a, 6900 Paradiso, Switzerland +41 91 986 19 09Hotel Zurigo Downtown
www.hotelzurigo.ch/ - ca. 120 CHF per night (room).
Corso Enrico Pestalozzi 13, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland +41 91 923 43 43Hotel Admiral
https://www.luganohoteladmiral.com/en/ - ca. 140 CHF – 200 CHF per night (bedroom).
Via Geretta 15, 6902 Paradiso, Switzerland +41 91 986 19 09Hotel Lido Seegarten
www.hotellido-lugano.com/en/ - ca. 175 CHF per night (bedroom).
Via Castagnola 22/24, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland +41 91 973 63 63
