Mediator: Michel Morange
Dates: First meeting on 02/11 at 9:00 for launch of the course and organization of following sessions with interested participants.
Objective:
Scientists often use scientific or philosophical notions that have different meanings, and a rich and complex history. Some examples: information, entropy, epigenetics, complexity, reductionism, law, contingency. We will work together to characterize these different meanings, and look for what is at stake behind the use (or non-use) of these notions. A particular attention will be paid to notions used differently in different scientific disciplines.
Practical:
1.The first step will be to establish together a list of about twenty notions.
2.Each session will be devoted to the study of one of these notions. It will be prepared by four students who will describe the main meanings and uses of these notions. I will complement by adding some historical information on the introduction of these notions, and the different ways there were successively used. A general discussion will help us to go further in their understanding.