Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS)
LightNews LightNews
banner
clpskuleuven.bsky.social
Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS)
@clpskuleuven.bsky.social
990 followers 1.5K following 19 posts
The Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS) at the Institute of Philosophy (@kuleuvenuniversity.bsky.social) focuses on #logic and #philsci, with a concentration on the philosophies of the special sciences • https://hiw.kuleuven.be/clps #philsky
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
clpskuleuven.bsky.social
Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS) @clpskuleuven.bsky.social · Sep 18
Hello, #AcademicSky! We are the Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS) at KU Leuven. Our senior and junior researchers focus on #logic, #epistemology & #philsci. We’re here to share our work and connect with logicians and philosophers of science worldwide—help us spread the word! #philsky
Cobblestone pathway leading to the red-brick Institute of Philosophy building at KU Leuven in Belgium (home of the Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science), framed by ivy-covered walls, arched windows, and lush greenery with purple wisteria flowers in the foreground.
Reposted by Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS)
theramseylab.bsky.social
Defining non-human #ToolUse remains contested, complicating scientific generalization & inspiring the concept of “tooling.” Our new 📄 @philscijournal.bsky.social proposes a synthetic framework to advance research on 🔧 use & tooling 👇 www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #philsci #cogsci #evosky #HPbio
Screenshot of the first page of a Philosophy of Science journal article titled “Tool Use Beyond Humans” by Gianmaria Dani and Grant Ramsey, published by the Philosophy of Science Association. The authors are affiliated with the Center for Logic and Philosophy of Science at KU Leuven, Belgium. Abstract: The definition of tool use has long been debated, especially when applied beyond humans. Recent work argues that the phenomena included within tool use are so broad and varied that there is little hope of using the category for scientific generalizations, explanations, and predictions about the evolution, ecology, and psychology of tool users. One response to this argument has been the development of tooling as a replacement for tool use. In this article, we analyze the tool use and tooling frameworks. Identifying advantages and limitations in each, we offer a synthetic approach that suggests promising avenues for future research.
November 10, 2025 at 2:15 PM
clpskuleuven.bsky.social
In the new #openaccess companion on student notes from Latin Europe (@leuvenup.bsky.social), our own Lorenz Demey, together with collaborators, contributes a chapter arguing that student notes hold great promise as sources for intellectual #history 👇 lup.be/book/student... #HPS #earlymodern #philsky
Book cover of "Student Notes from Latin Europe (1400–1750): A Research Companion," edited by Xander Feys, Maxime Maleux, Andy Peetermans, and Raf Van Rooy. Published by Leuven University Press. The cover features a partial diagram of concentric celestial spheres and an anatomical drawing of a human head labeled with Latin terms for sensory faculties. The design is minimalist in beige and gray tones. There is also an open access logo and the logo of Lueven University Press in the bottom left corner.
November 9, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Reposted by Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS)
andrameneganzin.bsky.social
Much of the empirical & theoretical landscape on #behaviouralmodernity has changed, and many think it’s high time we ditched the concept altogether. Here’s a minority voice in the choir: I’m skeptical that eliminativism is the panacea it’s often made out to be. 🔜 in Biol Theory

#philsky #evosky🧪🏺
The Fate of Behavioral Modernity - PhilSci-Archive
philsci-archive.pitt.edu
November 8, 2025 at 2:38 PM
clpskuleuven.bsky.social
Some of philosophy’s most famous paradoxes are arguments by reductio—though not every reductio earns the title of “paradox.” Drawing on the writings of al-Fārābī, Boaz Schuman will offer an answer to why that is in today's CLPS seminar! 👇 hiw.kuleuven.be/clps/events/... #philsky #histphil #logic
Webpage from KU Leuven’s Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS) announcing the next CLPS seminar by Boaz Schuman titled "Al-Farabi on Reductio and Paradox." The event is scheduled for November 7, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM (CET) in room HIW1-01.20. Abstract: Zeno’s paradoxes are not paradoxes. Or anyway, Zeno didn't mean them to be. Instead, he presents them as arguments by reductio, with the aim of showing that things like multiplicity and motion are impossible. More recently, and in a similar vein, McTaggart's paradox is not a paradox either: it is an argument, again by reductio, for the unreality of time as we commonly think of it. But what’s going on here? Why do such arguments by reductio get rebranded as paradoxes? And why specifically these ones, and not others? Why for example don’t we speak of the “Pythagorean incommensurability paradox”, or the “Paradox of infinite primes”? Is there a principle at play here? And if so, what is it? To answer these questions, I examine the taxonomy of reductio in the logical works of Abū Naṣr al-Fārābī (ca. 870–950). This points to a framework for understanding what al-Fārābī calles a paradoxical or “innovative” opinion (رَأْي بَدِيع, ra’y badī’). I'll show how this framework sheds light on—and justifies—the practice of rebranding some conclusions reached by reductio as paradoxes.
November 7, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Reposted by Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS)
clpskuleuven.bsky.social
Research funds are scarce & competition is fierce. A recent paper by @andreasdeblock.bsky.social & colleagues explores how this competition shapes science—its practices, risks & ethics—and proposes ways to make funding fairer & more effective👇 www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... #AcademicSky #HPS #scipol 🧪
Screenshot of a PNAS article titled “The costs of competition in distributing scarce research funds,” authored by Gerald Schweiger, Adrian Barnett, Peter van den Besselaar, Lutz Bornmann, Andreas De Block, John P. A. Ioannidis, Ulf Sandström, and Stijn Conix. Edited by Neil Shubin. Published December 2, 2024, in volume 121, issue 50, article e2407644121.
November 2, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Reposted by Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS)
jimjansen.bsky.social
Verbied ontwikkelingen van AI die kan liegen.
@lodelauwaert.bsky.social in de Volkskrant.
November 3, 2025 at 6:59 PM
clpskuleuven.bsky.social
Research funds are scarce & competition is fierce. A recent paper by @andreasdeblock.bsky.social & colleagues explores how this competition shapes science—its practices, risks & ethics—and proposes ways to make funding fairer & more effective👇 www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... #AcademicSky #HPS #scipol 🧪
Screenshot of a PNAS article titled “The costs of competition in distributing scarce research funds,” authored by Gerald Schweiger, Adrian Barnett, Peter van den Besselaar, Lutz Bornmann, Andreas De Block, John P. A. Ioannidis, Ulf Sandström, and Stijn Conix. Edited by Neil Shubin. Published December 2, 2024, in volume 121, issue 50, article e2407644121.
November 2, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Reposted by Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS)
andrameneganzin.bsky.social
Francesco d'Errico, Ivan Colage', and I wrote a paper on the evolution of #collectiveintelligence, epistemic #nicheconstruction, and the material traces of #hominin alterations to informational landscapes.

Forthcoming in PTRS B!

Preprint 🔗👇

osf.io/preprints/so...

🧪🏺 #philsky #paleosky #evosky
October 30, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Reposted by Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS)
clpskuleuven.bsky.social
In the context of our present global juncture, philosophers are examining the rise of populist movements & their threats to democratic values. Griet Galle & colleagues have edited a trilingual collective volume addressing these issues. Check it out! 📙👇 lit-verlag.de/isbn/978-3-6... #philsky #polphil
Cover of Forum Philosophie International 73: The Challenges of Populism (edited by the Association Internationale des Professeurs de Philosophie; publisher: LIT Zürich). The title appears in three languages—English, German, and French. Below the title is a cartoon showing two political scenes: on the left, a politician (next to a bodyguard) asks “Do you want clientele politics…” while addressing a small, serious audience; on the right, the same politician continues, “…or populism for everyone?” while cheerfully engaging with an enthusiastic crowd. Cartoon by Jan Tomaschoff.
October 24, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Reposted by Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS)
alejandrofabregastejeda.com
Each generation seems to rediscover the riddle of organismal agency: are organisms agents that pursue intrinsic goals—and how could we know? Our 📕 gathers historians, philosophers & scientists to explore this debate—now available in paperback!👇 www.routledge.com/The-Riddle-o... #philsky #HPS #evobio
Book cover of "The Riddle of Organismal Agency: New Historical and Philosophical Reflections" (Routledge, 2025). The book belongs to the "History and Philosophy of Biology" series. The editors are Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda, Jan Baedke, Guido I. Prieto, and Gregory Radick. The design features a geometric pattern of interlocking, multicolored triangles and rectangular prisms in shades of red, yellow, teal, white, and pink. The Routledge logo appears in the lower right corner.
October 27, 2025 at 12:41 PM
clpskuleuven.bsky.social
In the context of our present global juncture, philosophers are examining the rise of populist movements & their threats to democratic values. Griet Galle & colleagues have edited a trilingual collective volume addressing these issues. Check it out! 📙👇 lit-verlag.de/isbn/978-3-6... #philsky #polphil
Cover of Forum Philosophie International 73: The Challenges of Populism (edited by the Association Internationale des Professeurs de Philosophie; publisher: LIT Zürich). The title appears in three languages—English, German, and French. Below the title is a cartoon showing two political scenes: on the left, a politician (next to a bodyguard) asks “Do you want clientele politics…” while addressing a small, serious audience; on the right, the same politician continues, “…or populism for everyone?” while cheerfully engaging with an enthusiastic crowd. Cartoon by Jan Tomaschoff.
October 24, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Reposted by Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS)
clpskuleuven.bsky.social
New paper in @philscijournal.bsky.social! Sacha Ferrari, Wouter Lammers & Sylvia Wenmackers built an agent-based model to explore how the structure of scientific #networks shapes the public uptake of science—especially under uncertainty & affinity bias👇 doi.org/10.1017/psa.... #philsci #philsky #HPS
Screenshot of the first page of a Philosophy of Science article titled “How the Structure of Scientific Communities Could Affect the Public Uptake of Uncertain Science.” Authors: Sacha Ferrari, Wouter Lammers, and Sylvia Wenmackers. Affiliations: Center for Logic and Philosophy of Science and Public Governance Institute, KU Leuven, Belgium. The page includes journal branding from the Philosophy of Science Association and publication details (2025, DOI: 10.1017/psa.2025.11).
October 20, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Reposted by Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS)
theramseylab.bsky.social
Correlation isn’t causation, as the mantra goes—but statistical noise in correlational data can reveal causal information. When X and Y are causally linked, their noise tends to be asymmetric & this can guide #CausalInference. Check out our 📃👇 doi.org/10.1111/nous... #philsky #philsci #StatsSky #HPS
Screenshot of the first page of a Noûs article titled “Causal Inference from Noise.” Authors: Nevin Climenhaga (Australian Catholic University), Lane DesAutels (Missouri Western State University), and Grant Ramsey (KU Leuven). The citation details read: Noûs 55:1 (2021), pages 152–170, DOI: 10.1111/nous.12300.
October 21, 2025 at 9:20 AM
clpskuleuven.bsky.social
New paper in @philscijournal.bsky.social! Sacha Ferrari, Wouter Lammers & Sylvia Wenmackers built an agent-based model to explore how the structure of scientific #networks shapes the public uptake of science—especially under uncertainty & affinity bias👇 doi.org/10.1017/psa.... #philsci #philsky #HPS
Screenshot of the first page of a Philosophy of Science article titled “How the Structure of Scientific Communities Could Affect the Public Uptake of Uncertain Science.” Authors: Sacha Ferrari, Wouter Lammers, and Sylvia Wenmackers. Affiliations: Center for Logic and Philosophy of Science and Public Governance Institute, KU Leuven, Belgium. The page includes journal branding from the Philosophy of Science Association and publication details (2025, DOI: 10.1017/psa.2025.11).
October 20, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Reposted by Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS)
alejandrofabregastejeda.com
We are excited to share our latest paper contributing to the debate on the representational status of model organisms! Drawing on and refining the DEKI account of scientific representation, we argue that MOs are best understood as 'model carriers' 👇📃 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsci #HPBio
Screenshot of a journal article header from Synthese titled “Representing with model organisms: a refined DEKI account” by Guido I. Prieto and Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda. The article is marked as Original Research, published in 2025 (volume 206, article 209), with DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-025-05267-1
October 16, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Reposted by Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS)
clpskuleuven.bsky.social
The Church–Fitch paradox of knowability derives the omniscience thesis from the knowability thesis. In response, dynamic conceptions of knowability have been proposed. In a new 📃, Jan Heylen offers a critical examination of the dynamic approach 👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsky #logic
Screenshot of a journal article header from Synthese, volume 206 (2025), article 75. The paper is titled “The dynamic approach to knowability” and authored by Jan Heylen. The page includes the DOI link https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-025-05159-4
October 13, 2025 at 1:10 PM
clpskuleuven.bsky.social
Tomorrow we will host the conference "The Dānešnāme and Its (Structural) Aftermath," organized by Shahab Khademi & Marco Signori. Join us for a stellar lineup of speakers reflecting on Avicenna’s intellectual legacy! Details for online participation 👇 www.kuleuven.be/lectio/event... #philsky #HPS
Poster for the international conference “The Dānešnāme and Its (Structural) Aftermath,” held at KU Leuven from 15–17 October 2025. The event is convened by Shahab Khademi and Marco Signori, with participants including Kasra Abdavi Azar, Hassan Amini, Hanif Amin-Beidokhti, Amos Bertolacci, Godefroid de Callataÿ, Gholamreza Dadkhah, Zahra Donyai, Carina Dreyer, Mohammad Javad Esmaeili, Ali Golbaz, Husayn Ibrahim, Jules Janssens, Sakineh Karimi, Behnam Khodapanah, Joep Lameer, István Lánczky, Ivana Panzeca, Amir Hossein Pournamdar, Ahmed H. al-Rahim, Laura Tribuzio, Francesco Omar Zamboni, and others. The conference is part of the FIS Project SPACE (The System of Philosophy in Arabic: Charting the Encyclopaedias, 2024–2029), led by Amos Bertolacci at IMT Lucca. Logos of KU Leuven, Lectio, De Wulf-Mansion Centre, Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science, IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, and the SPACE Project appear at the bottom. The poster has a dark green background with white and gold accents and features a small image of Arabic manuscript text.
October 14, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Reposted by Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS)
theramseylab.bsky.social
Are you curious about what computational methods can offer to #HPS? Then check out the edited volume by Grant Ramsey & @andreasdeblock.bsky.social, published by @upittpress.bsky.social, showcasing key tools, questions, and investigative perspectives 👇📕💻 upittpress.org/books/978082... #philsky #DH
Book cover of "The Dynamics of Science: Computational Frontiers in History and Philosophy of Science" (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2022), edited by Grant Ramsey and Andreas De Block (KU Leuven). The design features a circular, data-inspired visualization with red and blue network patterns radiating from the center, suggesting computational and dynamic structures in science.
October 13, 2025 at 2:15 PM
clpskuleuven.bsky.social
The Church–Fitch paradox of knowability derives the omniscience thesis from the knowability thesis. In response, dynamic conceptions of knowability have been proposed. In a new 📃, Jan Heylen offers a critical examination of the dynamic approach 👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsky #logic
Screenshot of a journal article header from Synthese, volume 206 (2025), article 75. The paper is titled “The dynamic approach to knowability” and authored by Jan Heylen. The page includes the DOI link https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-025-05159-4
October 13, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Reposted by Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS)
ristouuk.bsky.social
I’m excited to share that @lodelauwaert.bsky.social and I are writing a book tentatively titled 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘐 𝘚𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘌𝘯𝘥𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦! It will be published by Wiley.
October 9, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Reposted by Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS)
clpskuleuven.bsky.social
In recent decades, scholars have examined various facets of Avicenna’s #logic. But how did Avicenna himself conceptualize logic—its definition, status, and purpose? PhD student Shahab Khademi explores this question in a new paper! 👇📃 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... #philsky #histphil #HPS
Avicenna on the Meaning of Logic: Revisiting Five Major Works
Avicenna's logic has gathered much interest in recent decades. However, one significant point that has hitherto been frequently neglected is what logic means to Avicenna in the first place. Conside...
www.tandfonline.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS)
theramseylab.bsky.social
Organisms alter selective pressures in many ways. But can they also shape the drift probabilities of their populations? In our recent paper, we argue that they can—and, in doing so, we expand the scope of #nicheconstruction theory 📄👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #HPBio #evobio #ecology #HPS
Screenshot of the article header from Synthese, titled ‘Driftability and niche construction,’ authored by Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda and Grant Ramsey.
September 11, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Reposted by Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS)
clpskuleuven.bsky.social
Is our world driven by technology—and is #technology itself neutral? Is #AI really disruptive? A new book by @lodelauwaert.bsky.social & Bartek Chomanski examines technologies from hammers & drills to autonomous cars & ChatGPT 🤖👇 link.springer.com/book/10.1007... #philsky #philtech #HPS
Book cover of "We, Robots: Questioning the Neutrality of Technology, Ethical AI and Technological Determinism" by Lode Lauwaert and Bartek Chomanski, published by Springer. The design features large white and dark blue text on a bright orange background.
October 6, 2025 at 1:14 PM
clpskuleuven.bsky.social
In recent decades, scholars have examined various facets of Avicenna’s #logic. But how did Avicenna himself conceptualize logic—its definition, status, and purpose? PhD student Shahab Khademi explores this question in a new paper! 👇📃 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... #philsky #histphil #HPS
Avicenna on the Meaning of Logic: Revisiting Five Major Works
Avicenna's logic has gathered much interest in recent decades. However, one significant point that has hitherto been frequently neglected is what logic means to Avicenna in the first place. Conside...
www.tandfonline.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS)
alejandrofabregastejeda.com
Still puzzled by the debate on organismal agency? Our edited collection brings historians, philosophers, and scientists into dialogue—offering a wide array of perspectives. An affordable paperback edition will be out at the end of the month! www.routledge.com/The-Riddle-o... #HPS #evobio #philsky
Book cover of "The Riddle of Organismal Agency: New Historical and Philosophical Reflections" (Routledge, 2024). The book belongs to the "History and Philosophy of Biology" series. The editors are Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda, Jan Baedke, Guido I. Prieto, and Gregory Radick. The design features a geometric pattern of interlocking, multicolored triangles and rectangular prisms in shades of red, yellow, teal, white, and pink. The Routledge logo appears in the lower right corner.
October 7, 2025 at 11:18 AM