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thebjps.bsky.social
British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
@thebjps.bsky.social
5.5K followers 990 following 290 posts
Latest issue:
https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/bjps/current

BJPS Review of Books:
https://www.thebsps.org/reviewofbooks/

BJPS Short Reads:
https://www.thebsps.org/short-reads/

Podcast:
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bjps
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thebjps.bsky.social
British Journal for the Philosophy of Science @thebjps.bsky.social · Nov 11
Welcome new followers! Some of the content we post will be behind a paywall (boo! hiss!)—but that wall is, like, two inches high. Join the BSPS for $20 ($4 for students) to get complete access to everything as well as the warm glow of supporting the society working for your discipline!
Journal subscriptions for The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science from the University of Chicago Press website.
Journal subscriptions for The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science from the University of Chicago Press website.
press.uchicago.edu
Reposted by British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
carnage4life.bsky.social
arXiv will no longer accept review articles and position papers unless they have been accepted at a journal or a conference and complete successful peer review.

This is due to being overwhelmed by a hundreds of AI generated papers a month.

Yet another open submission process killed by LLMs.
Attention Authors: Updated Practice for Review Articles and Position Papers in arXiv CS Category – arXiv blog
blog.arxiv.org
November 1, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Reposted by British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
socarxiv.bsky.social
In light of record submission rates and a large volume of AI-generated slop, SocArXiv recently implemented a policy requiring ORCIDs linked in the OSF profile of submitting authors, and narrowing our focus to social science subjects. Today we are taking two more steps:
/1
November 27, 2025 at 2:54 PM
thebjps.bsky.social
Just accepted

Non-relativistic Background Independence and the Gauging of Spacetime Symmetries
– Nicola Bamonti, Enrico Cinti & Marco Sanchioni

Abstract in alt text or read it here:
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...

#philsci #philsky
ABSTRACT. This article redefines background independence through a gauge-theoretic lens, arguing that it is not exclusive to general relativity but inherent to any gravitational theory whose spacetime geometry emerges dynamically from gauging symmetry groups' algebras. Applying this framework, we demonstrate that (torsional) Newton–Cartan and Carrollian gravities—obtained via gauging the Bargmann and Carroll algebras, respectively—satisfy background independence. This shows that background independence is decoupled from relativistic structures (for example, Lorentzian metrics, light cones) and instead is a hallmark of gauging: spacetime geometry arises as an interacting dynamical gauge field. We also suggest that this new way of thinking about background independence might have relevant implications for quantum gravity theory building.
November 27, 2025 at 10:15 AM
thebjps.bsky.social
Just accepted

The Unanimous Consent Approach to Value Management in Citizen Science
– Andrew Allison

Abstract in alt text or read it here:
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...

#philsci #philsky
ABSTRACT. Citizen science involves collaboration between citizens and researchers. Just as is the case with scientific inquiry among trained researchers alone, both epistemic and non-epistemic values can conflict with one another within citizen science. When this happens, philosophers of science have sought to manage the various values of researchers and other stakeholders. I consider two approaches for addressing these conflicts: the transparency model and the unanimous consent model. While proponents of the former suggest that difficulties implementing this approach will be faced by both citizens and researchers, I argue that they are likely amplified in the case of citizen science: citizens face greater difficulties than researchers in making explicit other interpretations of data and clarifying major assumptions that were made, two steps of the transparency approach. Instead, I propose that the unanimous consent model be adopted to manage values in citizen science.
November 26, 2025 at 10:15 AM
thebjps.bsky.social
New from the BJPS Review of Books

Fruitfulness: Science, Metaphor, and the Puzzle of Promise
– Chris Haufe

Reviewed by Samuel Schindler & Patrick Duerr

www.thebsps.org/reviewofbook...

#philsci #philsky
Chris Haufe, Fruitfulness | BJPS Review of Books
Samuel Schindler and Patrick Duerr review Fruitfulness, by Chris Haufe
www.thebsps.org
November 25, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Reposted by British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
jeroenvanbouwel.bsky.social
The European Network for the Philosophy of the Social Sciences (ENPOSS) invites submissions to its 15th Conference at the University of Helsinki, 26-28 August 2026. More info here: enposs.eu
European Network for the Philosophy of the Social Sciences (ENPOSS)
enposs.eu
November 21, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Reposted by British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
wiglet1981.bsky.social
any filmmakers on here interested in remaking Falling Down (1993) but instead of a traffic jam on a hot day the catalyst is trying to log in to editorial manager on literally any sort of day whatsoever?
November 23, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Reposted by British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
thebjps.bsky.social
New on the BJPS Review of Books:

A Drive to Survive
– Kathryn Nave

Reviewed by Matteo Colombo

#philsci #philsky

www.thebsps.org/reviewofbook...
Kathryn Nave, A Drive to Survive | BJPS Review of Books
Matteo Colombo reviews A Drive to Survive, by Kathryn Nave
www.thebsps.org
November 18, 2025 at 11:09 AM
thebjps.bsky.social
Free to read: Max Dresow & Alan Love, The Interdisciplinary Entanglement of Characterization and Explanation 👇
chicagojournals.bsky.social Chicago Journals @chicagojournals.bsky.social · 6d
To what degree are the concepts of characterization and explanation entangled? An Open Access article from The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science uses the Cambrian explosion as a case study to answer this question: https://ow.ly/LsZx50XrrRZ. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
November 22, 2025 at 1:22 PM
thebjps.bsky.social
Just accepted

Do First-Class Constraints Generate Gauge Transformations? A Geometric Resolution
– Clara Bradley

Abstract in alt text or read it here:
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...

#philsci #philsky
ABSTRACT. In the Hamiltonian formalism, a gauge transformation is typically defined as a transformation generated by an arbitrary combination of first-class constraints. But gauge transformations are also understood as marking physical equivalence: they relate states or solutions that represent the same physical situation. Whether these two characterizations coincide has been a matter of debate. Pitts, for example, contends that first-class constraints can generate a 'bad physical change'. This article defends the standard view, arguing that it correctly identifies both states and solutions that are equivalent from the perspective of the geometric structure of the Hamiltonian formalism. In doing so, it clarifies the relationship between mathematical and interpretational perspectives on gauge transformations.
November 20, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Reposted by British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
marcoalmada.com
A big day for alliterative philosophers of science!
thebjps.bsky.social British Journal for the Philosophy of Science @thebjps.bsky.social · 9d
Just accepted

Limiting Reduction and Modified Gravity
– Antonis Antoniou & Lorenzo Lorenzetti

Abstract in alt text or read it here:
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...

#philsci #philsky
ABSTRACT. Modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) is a framework of theories that adjust Newton's laws of gravity to explain effects such as galactic rotation anomalies, offering an alternative to dark matter. We examine the justification of MOND by assessing its relationship to established theories, in particular its connection to Newtonian gravitation. We argue that MOND fails a key condition for a theory's justification—'reduction-wise justification'—as it does not adequately reduce to Newtonian gravity in a fully non-arbitrary way. This case study provides crucial results for the debate on inter-theoretic reduction: MOND's failure as a case of reduction highlights limits to standard accounts of limiting reduction. We respond with a refined framework that introduces two additional criteria to better distinguish successful from pathological reductions, showing how analysing reduction-wise justification allows us to evaluate the validity of novel theories not yet empirically established.
November 19, 2025 at 10:17 AM
thebjps.bsky.social
Just accepted

Limiting Reduction and Modified Gravity
– Antonis Antoniou & Lorenzo Lorenzetti

Abstract in alt text or read it here:
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...

#philsci #philsky
ABSTRACT. Modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) is a framework of theories that adjust Newton's laws of gravity to explain effects such as galactic rotation anomalies, offering an alternative to dark matter. We examine the justification of MOND by assessing its relationship to established theories, in particular its connection to Newtonian gravitation. We argue that MOND fails a key condition for a theory's justification—'reduction-wise justification'—as it does not adequately reduce to Newtonian gravity in a fully non-arbitrary way. This case study provides crucial results for the debate on inter-theoretic reduction: MOND's failure as a case of reduction highlights limits to standard accounts of limiting reduction. We respond with a refined framework that introduces two additional criteria to better distinguish successful from pathological reductions, showing how analysing reduction-wise justification allows us to evaluate the validity of novel theories not yet empirically established.
November 19, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Reposted by British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
psadeicaucus.bsky.social
"...Nave’s A Drive to Survive has two main goals... to show that the free-energy principle cannot constitute an adequate theoretical foundation for understanding the nature and dynamics of living systems ..[and] that a bioenactivist approach fares better ... in affording such a foundation."
November 18, 2025 at 12:27 PM
thebjps.bsky.social
New on the BJPS Review of Books:

A Drive to Survive
– Kathryn Nave

Reviewed by Matteo Colombo

#philsci #philsky

www.thebsps.org/reviewofbook...
Kathryn Nave, A Drive to Survive | BJPS Review of Books
Matteo Colombo reviews A Drive to Survive, by Kathryn Nave
www.thebsps.org
November 18, 2025 at 11:09 AM
thebjps.bsky.social
Just accepted

Localizing the Singular Structure of Spacetime
– Franciszek Cudek

Abstract in alt text or read it here:
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...

#philsci #philsky
ABSTRACT. I argue that the singular structure of spacetime is best conceptualized as an extrinsic, non-local, but localizable, property of spacetime regions (of any size), and that there is no unique, best definition of a singular region of spacetime. There is, however, a schema that any adequate definition instantiates. Moreover, the question of what kind of incomplete curves witness singular structure is intimately connected to the question of what kind of curves represent possible trajectories of observers in physically reasonable motion.
November 17, 2025 at 10:15 AM
thebjps.bsky.social
One of the best #philsci conferences in one of the best cities: the 2026 BSPS Annual Conference is taking place in Leeds 21–23 July.

Keynotes by Robin Hendry, Tarja Knuuttila & Eleanor Knox.

More info: www.thebsps.org/news/bsps-an...

#philsky
BSPS Annual Conference 2026
The BSPS Annual Conference takes place on 21–23 July 2026 at the University of Leeds
www.thebsps.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:53 PM
thebjps.bsky.social
New Letter to the Editors

Gijsbers on Jacobs on Gijsbers on Presentist Velocities…

#philsci #philsky
On Gijsbers, Presentist Velocities | BJPS Letters to the Editor
Correspondence from Caspar Jacobs, with a reply from Victor Gijsbers
www.thebsps.org
October 31, 2025 at 10:45 AM
thebjps.bsky.social
Just accepted:

Scepticism about Post Hoc Explainability and Idealized Models
– Aleks Knoks & Thomas Raleigh

Abstract in alt text or read it here:
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...

#philsci #philsky
ABSTRACT. Deep neural networks and other AI systems engineered using advanced machine learning techniques can tackle a wide range of tasks with proficiency that seems to match and even surpass human ability. Yet they are also notoriously opaque and worries surrounding their opacity have given rise to the burgeoning field of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI), with its large variety of explainability methods. This includes post hoc explainability methods that purport to explain opaque AI systems on the basis of their input–output behaviour alone, without looking into their inner workings. But many have expressed deep scepticism about post hoc explainability. We explore the two main objections that the sceptics have raised and argue that we shouldn’t be swayed by them. Using ideas from recent literature on scientific explanation, we draw a parallel between post hoc explainability methods and idealized models in science, and use the parallel in reply to the sceptics.
October 30, 2025 at 10:15 AM
thebjps.bsky.social
Just accepted:

Scientific Contributions and Scientific Authorship
– Mikkel Gerken

Abstract in alt text or read it here:
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...

#philsci
ABSTRACT. As a non-consensually enlisted contributor to the article ‘What’s the Point of Authors?’, who has made virtually no contribution to it, I argue against its proposed re-conception of authorship. In particular, I argue that a core component of the account—namely, the conception of contributorship—is implausible, infeasible, undesirable, and, in far too many cases, unethical.
October 29, 2025 at 10:15 AM
thebjps.bsky.social
Just accepted:

Explanatory Understanding in the Metaphysics of Science
– Peter Tan

Abstract in alt text or read the paper here:
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...

#philsci #philsky
ABSTRACT. This article develops a novel account of metaphysics’ explanatory contributions to the philosophy of science. A recent objection alleges that explanations of features of science in metaphysical terms are nothing more than rephrases of their target explananda. That is, these explanations are alleged to fail with respect to what has recently been called ‘explanatory distance’. In response, I show that putative explanations of the scientific image in metaphysical terms often exemplify an explanatory strategy found elsewhere in science, which I call type–token explanations. If successful, these explanations would achieve appropriate explanatory distance. Additionally, because this mode of explanation coheres with a pre-existing explanatory strategy in science, my account implies that the metaphysics of science can generate understanding about its target phenomena in the same way that scientific explanations can provide scientific understanding of their target explananda
October 24, 2025 at 9:45 AM
thebjps.bsky.social
Just accepted:

Determinism and Asymmetry in General Relativity
– J B Manchak, Thomas Barrett, Hans Halvorson & James Weatherall

Abstract in alt text or read the paper here:
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...

#philsci #philsky
ABSTRACT. This article concerns the question of which collections of general relativistic spacetimes are deterministic relative to which definitions. We begin by considering a series of three definitions of increasing strength due to Belot. The strongest of these definitions is particularly interesting for spacetime theories because it involves an asymmetry condition called `rigidity' that has been studied previously in a different context by Geroch. We show how Belot's strongest definition is connected to a formal result emphasized by Weatherall. We then go on to explore other (stronger) asymmetry conditions that give rise to other (stronger) forms of determinism. We introduce a number of definitions of this type and clarify the relationships between them and the three considered by Belot. We show that there are collections of general relativistic spacetimes that satisfy much stronger forms of determinism than previously known. We also highlight a number of open questions.
October 23, 2025 at 9:15 AM
thebjps.bsky.social
Just accepted:

How Do We Know If Animals Remember? Proximal Functions and the Distribution of Episodic Memory
– Arieh Schwartz & Alexandria Boyle

Abstract in alt text or read it here: www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...

#philsci #philsky
ABSTRACT. Which animals have episodic memory? One reason this is difficult to answer is that episodic memory could be expected to vary across species, making it hard to give a principled account of what ‘counts’ as an episodic memory system. In this article, we propose that the investigation of episodic memory in animals should be guided by an account of its proximal proper functions: its most basic selected effects. In short, an animal has episodic memory if it has a memory system with the proximal functions of episodic memory. While there are many accounts of episodic memory’s distal functions, little attention has been paid to its proximal functions. To remedy this, we develop a preliminary account of episodic memory’s proximal functions and use this to evaluate existing evidence about episodic memory in animals.
October 20, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Reposted by British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
lsephilosophy.bsky.social
🚨We're hiring! 🚨

👉Open Position: Assistant Professor of #Philosophy with focus on #AI

🗓️ Application deadline: 3 November 2025

Apply via: jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...

#PartOfLSE #LSEPhilosophy #Jobs
August 19, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
philsci.bsky.social
PSA is in the process of launching a subdivision focused on postdoctoral scholars! Help shape its mission and priorities—take our 5-minute survey here, All interested PSA members are welcome to join the conversation!
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October 16, 2025 at 4:31 PM
thebjps.bsky.social
Just accepted:

Entanglement Swapping for Entanglement Realists
– Jørn Kløvfjell Mjelva

Abstract in alt text or read it here:
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...

#philsci #philsky
ABSTRACT. Delayed-choice entanglement swapping experiments have been argued to undermine realism about entanglement. One response has been to argue that the correlations displayed in delayed-choice entanglement swapping experiments have a different physical interpretation than the correlations in the non-delayed case. This strategy runs into problems when applied to cases of spacelike entanglement swapping, as it would appear to require one to either posit a privileged foliation of spacetime or otherwise accept that whether entanglement obtains is frame dependent. In this article, I present a realist-friendly account of entanglement swapping that circumvents this dilemma, in which entanglement is explicated via the notion of a common ground. The issue of frame dependence is resolved by adopting the past light-cone criterion for property attribution, and the correlations displayed in the spacelike entanglement swapping experiments are attributed to a joint common ground.
October 8, 2025 at 9:15 AM