Dear all,

We will have our next LIRa session tomorrow. We will use our recurring zoom link: https://uva-live.zoom.us/j/92907704256?pwd=anY3WkFmQVhLZGhjT2JXMlhjQVl1dz09 (Meeting ID: 929 0770 4256, Passcode: 036024). You can find the details below.

Speaker: Rafał Gruszczyński

Date and Time: Thursday, January 21st 2021, 16:30-18:30, Amsterdam time.

Venue: online.

Title: Galileo's thought experiment in mereological setting.

Abstract. In the talk, I would like to present a formalization of Galileo’s

argument against the Aristotelian view that the weight of free-falling

bodies influences their speed. The formalization witnesses the

application of concepts of parthood and mereological sum, and

recognizes a particular principle that is not explicitly formulated by

the Italian thinker but seems natural and helpful in understanding the

logical mechanism behind Galileo’s train of thought. To locate the

formalization in a broader perspective of philosophy of science, I

will analyze and compare two main approaches to the nature of thought

experiments: Platonic view versus thought-experiment-as-argument view.

Hope to see you there!

The LIRa team