Oscar
@oscarw.bsky.social
Philosophy postdoc at the University of Iceland. PhD from HPS Cambridge. Interested in philosophy of science, logic, language, and pragmatism.
Pinned
Oscar
@oscarw.bsky.social
· Jan 14
Client Challenge
link.springer.com
New paper just published in Synthese: Instrumental Understanding link.springer.com/article/10.1...
In this paper I start developing an account of pragmatic understanding fit for an epistemology of scientific instruments, drawing especially on Davis Baird's Thing Knowledge. #philsci #philsky
In this paper I start developing an account of pragmatic understanding fit for an epistemology of scientific instruments, drawing especially on Davis Baird's Thing Knowledge. #philsci #philsky
Reposted by Oscar
Next week Wednesday and Thursday (7th and 8th October) we will be running the event "Mathematical Proof in the age of AI" at the University of Bergen. www4.uib.no/en/research/...
Mathematical Proof in the Age of AI
This conference will be about the various implications of AI-based proving and autoformalisation for mathematics. Examples include the recently (claimed) major breakthrough in solving the Navier-Stoke...
www4.uib.no
September 30, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Next week Wednesday and Thursday (7th and 8th October) we will be running the event "Mathematical Proof in the age of AI" at the University of Bergen. www4.uib.no/en/research/...
Had a great time speaking at the Minnesota International Postdoc Forum last week! Some great questions and comments giving me lots to think about. Thanks for having me!
Thank you, @oscarw.bsky.social for the discussion last week on "Understanding to Some Purpose." The video, our latest in the International Postdoc Forum series, is now available to watch on the MCPS YouTube channel.
buff.ly/CoQAi5c
#philsci
buff.ly/CoQAi5c
#philsci
IPDF September 2026: Oscar Westerblad, University of Iceland
Understanding to Some Purpose
buff.ly
September 29, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Had a great time speaking at the Minnesota International Postdoc Forum last week! Some great questions and comments giving me lots to think about. Thanks for having me!
Reposted by Oscar
September 26, 2026 at 8:19 AM
Reposted by Oscar
Join us online next week for our first International Postdoc Forum of the 2026 Autumn semester. @oscarw.bsky.social, University of Iceland, will discuss "Understanding to Some Purpose." Wed 23 Sept, 12:15 pm CDT (UTC -5). We will post a recording afterward.
Zoom link on the website: buff.ly/cQSwND3
Zoom link on the website: buff.ly/cQSwND3
International Postdoc Forum
This page contains information about postdoc forums.
buff.ly
September 18, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Join us online next week for our first International Postdoc Forum of the 2026 Autumn semester. @oscarw.bsky.social, University of Iceland, will discuss "Understanding to Some Purpose." Wed 23 Sept, 12:15 pm CDT (UTC -5). We will post a recording afterward.
Zoom link on the website: buff.ly/cQSwND3
Zoom link on the website: buff.ly/cQSwND3
Reposted by Oscar
Postdoc in history of physics @ Radboud University in The Netherlands on "Origins of Irreversibility" part of larger grant to explore fundamental questions concerning entropy, chaos, & irreversibility #HPS ⚛️
Deadline: 14 October 2026
Duration: 2 years, starting 2027
www.ru.nl/en/working-a...
Deadline: 14 October 2026
Duration: 2 years, starting 2027
www.ru.nl/en/working-a...
Postdoc Positions: Origins of Irreversibility | Radboud University
Do you want to work as a Postdoc at the Faculty of Science? Check our vacancy!
www.ru.nl
September 16, 2026 at 10:55 AM
Postdoc in history of physics @ Radboud University in The Netherlands on "Origins of Irreversibility" part of larger grant to explore fundamental questions concerning entropy, chaos, & irreversibility #HPS ⚛️
Deadline: 14 October 2026
Duration: 2 years, starting 2027
www.ru.nl/en/working-a...
Deadline: 14 October 2026
Duration: 2 years, starting 2027
www.ru.nl/en/working-a...
Reposted by Oscar
Reposted by Oscar
Reposted by Oscar
"But on the night sky, it's like seeing an atom held at arm's length..."
This week on the podcast, Peter Galison joins Sophie Ritson to discuss what it took to make the first image of the black hole — and what it means to say we saw it.
linktr.ee/thehpspodcast
This week on the podcast, Peter Galison joins Sophie Ritson to discuss what it took to make the first image of the black hole — and what it means to say we saw it.
linktr.ee/thehpspodcast
September 11, 2026 at 6:19 AM
"But on the night sky, it's like seeing an atom held at arm's length..."
This week on the podcast, Peter Galison joins Sophie Ritson to discuss what it took to make the first image of the black hole — and what it means to say we saw it.
linktr.ee/thehpspodcast
This week on the podcast, Peter Galison joins Sophie Ritson to discuss what it took to make the first image of the black hole — and what it means to say we saw it.
linktr.ee/thehpspodcast
Reposted by Oscar
Methods in the Philosophy of Science: A User's Guide, edited by the inestimable @phieveigl.bsky.social (and me!), has 27 chapters from super-cool philosophers of science explaining how they do their thing, and is now open access! Our baby is free! #philsci
direct.mit.edu/books/oa-edi...
direct.mit.edu/books/oa-edi...
Methods in the Philosophy of Science: A User's Guide
A guidebook to methods and methodology, encouraging deeper engagement across the philosophy of science and beyond.The last twenty years have seen multiple
direct.mit.edu
September 10, 2026 at 3:49 AM
Methods in the Philosophy of Science: A User's Guide, edited by the inestimable @phieveigl.bsky.social (and me!), has 27 chapters from super-cool philosophers of science explaining how they do their thing, and is now open access! Our baby is free! #philsci
direct.mit.edu/books/oa-edi...
direct.mit.edu/books/oa-edi...
Reposted by Oscar
It was a pleasure to contribute to this symposium in Mind & Language on Frances Egan's wonderful book, Deflating mental representation (MIT, 2025). My paper on "Deflationism, realism and fictionalism" is Open Access: dx.doi.org/10.1111/mila... @francesegan.bsky.social @kenaizawa.bsky.social #philsky
Deflationism, realism, and fictionalism
Frances Egan's Deflating mental representation gives a forceful defence of deflationism about mental representation. Deflationism is a form of selective realism: It is realist about vehicles of menta....
dx.doi.org
September 8, 2026 at 11:56 AM
It was a pleasure to contribute to this symposium in Mind & Language on Frances Egan's wonderful book, Deflating mental representation (MIT, 2025). My paper on "Deflationism, realism and fictionalism" is Open Access: dx.doi.org/10.1111/mila... @francesegan.bsky.social @kenaizawa.bsky.social #philsky
Reposted by Oscar
Another postdoc position open at the University of Helsinki. This time in "The Many Faces of Inquiry: Towards a Dynamic and Pluralistic Epistemology" -project: philjobs.org/job/show/31949
AOS: epistemology/ethics
#PhilJobs #philsky #epistemology #ethics #philosophy #postdoc
AOS: epistemology/ethics
#PhilJobs #philsky #epistemology #ethics #philosophy #postdoc
Postdoctoral Researcher/Researcher, University of Helsinki
- PhilJobs:JFP
Postdoctoral Researcher/Researcher, University of Helsinki
An international database of jobs for philosophers
philjobs.org
September 2, 2026 at 7:08 AM
Another postdoc position open at the University of Helsinki. This time in "The Many Faces of Inquiry: Towards a Dynamic and Pluralistic Epistemology" -project: philjobs.org/job/show/31949
AOS: epistemology/ethics
#PhilJobs #philsky #epistemology #ethics #philosophy #postdoc
AOS: epistemology/ethics
#PhilJobs #philsky #epistemology #ethics #philosophy #postdoc
Reposted by Oscar
In the 1930s, a group of European philosophers fled fascism and reshaped American philosophy. Why did logical positivism have such an impact on US thought? And why did it play a central role in the culture wars of the 1950s and 1960s?
Released today! Logical Positivism: An American History
(1/3)
Released today! Logical Positivism: An American History
(1/3)
September 2, 2026 at 11:54 AM
In the 1930s, a group of European philosophers fled fascism and reshaped American philosophy. Why did logical positivism have such an impact on US thought? And why did it play a central role in the culture wars of the 1950s and 1960s?
Released today! Logical Positivism: An American History
(1/3)
Released today! Logical Positivism: An American History
(1/3)
Reposted by Oscar
Meillä on ERC-hankkeessa väikkäripaikan haku auki 3.9. asti. Ala on tieteenfilosofia/tieteentutkimus/kognitiotiede ja aihe tekoälyn käyttö tieteellisessä ongelmanratkaisussa jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
Doctoral Researcher, Philosophy of science: AI in scientific problem solving
Doctoral Researcher, Philosophy of science: AI in scientific problem solving
jobs.helsinki.fi
August 28, 2026 at 9:07 AM
Meillä on ERC-hankkeessa väikkäripaikan haku auki 3.9. asti. Ala on tieteenfilosofia/tieteentutkimus/kognitiotiede ja aihe tekoälyn käyttö tieteellisessä ongelmanratkaisussa jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
Reposted by Oscar
this should be an interesting book. Sander is great
Logical Positivism: An American History
Abstract. This book tells the remarkable story of a group of European philosophers and scientists who fled fascism and reshaped American philosophy. Drawin
academic.oup.com
August 25, 2026 at 1:12 PM
this should be an interesting book. Sander is great
Reposted by Oscar
i do think philosophers of science today should be made to read feyerabend and acknowledge every then-controversial point he made that is standard fare today
Who is the most maligned philosopher that you secretly think is worth reading?
August 16, 2026 at 4:34 PM
i do think philosophers of science today should be made to read feyerabend and acknowledge every then-controversial point he made that is standard fare today
Reposted by Oscar
Two junior research fellowships @kingscollege.bsky.social opening soon due on Oct 1st. The theme is REPLICATION conceived broadly to encompass different research projects in humanities and social sciences. As a philosopher of science I am esp hoping for applications in #philsci #metascience #hps
Current research opportunities
www.kings.cam.ac.uk
August 14, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Two junior research fellowships @kingscollege.bsky.social opening soon due on Oct 1st. The theme is REPLICATION conceived broadly to encompass different research projects in humanities and social sciences. As a philosopher of science I am esp hoping for applications in #philsci #metascience #hps
Reposted by Oscar
Looking forward to participating in this conference "What Makes a Geoscience Model Useful?" hosted by @geolsoc.bsky.social on 21 - 22 September 2026
09:00 - 18:00
Burlington House, Piccadilly, London & virtual
(They sent me this nifty speaker graphic to share)
#philsci ⚒️
www.geolsoc.org.uk/geomodels
09:00 - 18:00
Burlington House, Piccadilly, London & virtual
(They sent me this nifty speaker graphic to share)
#philsci ⚒️
www.geolsoc.org.uk/geomodels
August 7, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Looking forward to participating in this conference "What Makes a Geoscience Model Useful?" hosted by @geolsoc.bsky.social on 21 - 22 September 2026
09:00 - 18:00
Burlington House, Piccadilly, London & virtual
(They sent me this nifty speaker graphic to share)
#philsci ⚒️
www.geolsoc.org.uk/geomodels
09:00 - 18:00
Burlington House, Piccadilly, London & virtual
(They sent me this nifty speaker graphic to share)
#philsci ⚒️
www.geolsoc.org.uk/geomodels
Reposted by Oscar
This is possibly the first time that (world-class) seismologists will join philosophers of science to discuss progress in seismology.
Very proud of having co-organized this with @miguelohn.bsky.social and Teru Miyake
#philsci #PSA26 #histci
#seismology #earthquakes
Very proud of having co-organized this with @miguelohn.bsky.social and Teru Miyake
#philsci #PSA26 #histci
#seismology #earthquakes
August 4, 2026 at 11:49 AM
This is possibly the first time that (world-class) seismologists will join philosophers of science to discuss progress in seismology.
Very proud of having co-organized this with @miguelohn.bsky.social and Teru Miyake
#philsci #PSA26 #histci
#seismology #earthquakes
Very proud of having co-organized this with @miguelohn.bsky.social and Teru Miyake
#philsci #PSA26 #histci
#seismology #earthquakes
Reposted by Oscar
It's been over a month since our workshop on entity realism, held at the @unibe.ch and supported by the @snsf.ch, where among others @msuarez.bsky.social and @kenaizawa.bsky.social delivered great talks!
The recordings are finally available here:
www.philosophie.unibe.ch/research/pro...
#philsci
The recordings are finally available here:
www.philosophie.unibe.ch/research/pro...
#philsci
Entity Realism Beyond Manipulation
www.philosophie.unibe.ch
August 3, 2026 at 10:42 AM
It's been over a month since our workshop on entity realism, held at the @unibe.ch and supported by the @snsf.ch, where among others @msuarez.bsky.social and @kenaizawa.bsky.social delivered great talks!
The recordings are finally available here:
www.philosophie.unibe.ch/research/pro...
#philsci
The recordings are finally available here:
www.philosophie.unibe.ch/research/pro...
#philsci
Reposted by Oscar
A few days left for our call for papers on Philosophy through Art, Games and Fiction, dedicated to Helen De Cruz think.taylorandfranc... I am convinced that being playful and creative makes us better philosophers. Prove me right! #philsky #philosophy
Philosophy through Art, Games, and Fiction
Can we do philosophy by writing fiction, drawing, designing a game, or telling a story? Submit work to this special issue honouring the legacy of Helen De Cruz.
think.taylorandfrancis.com
July 28, 2026 at 9:11 AM
A few days left for our call for papers on Philosophy through Art, Games and Fiction, dedicated to Helen De Cruz think.taylorandfranc... I am convinced that being playful and creative makes us better philosophers. Prove me right! #philsky #philosophy
Reposted by Oscar
listen, i'm not here to tell you about quine. you already know about quine. either he lives in your heart or he doesn't
July 26, 2026 at 4:38 PM
listen, i'm not here to tell you about quine. you already know about quine. either he lives in your heart or he doesn't
Reposted by Oscar
Closing this tough academic year with Res Philosophica paper on the legacy of Popper's & Bergson's ideas on #OpenSociety and #OpenScience - huge thanks to colleagues & @erc.europa.eu for so much learning and fruitful collaborations, and wishing all some rest in the coming month! #philsci
July 24, 2026 at 9:25 AM
Closing this tough academic year with Res Philosophica paper on the legacy of Popper's & Bergson's ideas on #OpenSociety and #OpenScience - huge thanks to colleagues & @erc.europa.eu for so much learning and fruitful collaborations, and wishing all some rest in the coming month! #philsci
Reposted by Oscar
@thebsps.bsky.social
BSPS Leeds 2026 is go! Opening with a presidential address by Robin Hendry ‘Metaphysics & Science: A call for History’
sites.google.com/view/bsps202...
BSPS Leeds 2026 is go! Opening with a presidential address by Robin Hendry ‘Metaphysics & Science: A call for History’
sites.google.com/view/bsps202...
July 21, 2026 at 2:56 PM
@thebsps.bsky.social
BSPS Leeds 2026 is go! Opening with a presidential address by Robin Hendry ‘Metaphysics & Science: A call for History’
sites.google.com/view/bsps202...
BSPS Leeds 2026 is go! Opening with a presidential address by Robin Hendry ‘Metaphysics & Science: A call for History’
sites.google.com/view/bsps202...