Visiting professor: Dr. Hasok Chang

Abstract

Summary of scheduled activities Prof. Dr. Hasok Chang Department of History and Philosophy of Science University of Cambridge. During his visit, Prof. Dr. Hasok Chang will participate in activities related with Thematic Project "Revealing Natural Processes through the Laboratory (Phase II): The Search for Material Principles in the Three Kingdoms until the Specialization of Science in the 1800s" (FAPESP 2011/14040-9) where his contribution has paramount importance. Consistently, Prof. Chang's seminars and conference will deal with the mutual relationship between specialized fields of the physical sciences, a subject that is closely related with the focus of our Thematic Project on the divisions and organization of knowledge, as well as with the different notions proposed for the principles of matter in the course of history. Based on Prof. Chang's areas of expertise, and having in mind his effective contribution to the development of our Thematic Project, we indicated particular subjects to be dealt with in seminars (modalities Special, Noon, and Research) and other scientific meetings. In addition, Prof. Chang and Prof. Paulo Porto (IQ-USP) will be the Guest Lecturers at the III Allen Debus Biannual Lectures. Prof. Chang's participation in CESIMA projects will include: 1. Special Seminars: Targeting the academic audience interest in History of Science, in general, and the students of our Postgraduate Program, in particular, these seminars are held on a weekly basis. As the speaker in two such seminars, Prof. Chang will address historical and philosophical topics of the science of matter in the 18th and 19th centuries with a focus on the disciplinary emergence of chemistry and physics and their mutual relationship. The scheduled Special Seminars are: *"What really happened in the Chemical Revolution?" *"Early electrochemistry: progress without foundations?" 2. Research Seminars: Also held on a weekly basis, this modality of seminars involves the core group of researchers of our Thematic Project. Prof. Chang will participate in two Research Seminars that will be devoted to more thorough discussions on the specialization of science and the mutual relationship between different scientific fields. The scheduled Research Seminars are: *"What does the history of chemistry tell us about scientific realism?" *"Pluralism in science" 3. Seminars at Noon: These seminars target the academic community as a whole. Prof. Chang will participate in one such seminars, where he will approach the ages-long controversy on the relationship between the history and the philosophy of science: *"The relation between history and philosophy of science" 4. III Allen Debus Biannual Lectures: Prof. Chang will be one of the Guest Lecturers, and will approach the debates on the different notions of "elements" developed in the course of history, and how one such ancient elements, namely water, came to be seen as a compound: *"Water: the long road from Aristotelian element to H2O" 5. Working meetings: In addition to the events mentioned above that will address specific subjects, several working meetings are scheduled to discuss joint research projects and publications. Also the plans for further development of our years-long mutual collaboration and exchange will be discussed. 6. Students meetings: To facilitate opportunities for our students, both at the initial and advanced stage of research, to interact with scholars of international reputation, two special periods were scheduled for Prof. Chang to meet with them on an individual basis. (AU)