Aims and Objectives
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| Gustav Klimt, 'Philosophy', copyright Archives of the University of Viena, Franz Pfluegl |
PSE is a natural development of two ESF Networks, “Historical and Contemporary Perspectives of Philosophy of Science in Europe” (HCPPS, 2002-2204) and “Philosophical and Foundational Problems of Modern Physics” (PFPMP, 2003-2005), which pointed out major trends of research and their lacunas. Building on the results of such two successful Networks, PSE focuses on foundational and methodological issues in a number of sciences, including, within the natural sciences, physics, biology, chemistry and the earth sciences, and, within the social sciences, economics, anthropology, psychology and history. A specific interest will be devoted to emerging disciplines endowed with a peculiar, so-to-speak “borderline” scientific status, such as medicine, archaeology and cognitive science.
The Programme, which has a resolute interdisciplinary character, intends to reinforce contacts, knit together several European Research Centres. Working in strict cooperation with the newly founded EPSA (European Philosophy of Science Association), it will voice European research in the field, yet be open towards the contribution of overseas scholars, especially from those countries such as USA, Canada, South America and Australia, strongly involved in this kind of research.
