Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS)

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.

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 "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.

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

J. P. Smit & Filip Buekens, Is Somaliland a Country? An Essay on Institutional Objects in the Social Sciences - PhilArchive Searle claims that his theory of institutional reality is particularly suitable as a theoretical scheme of individuation for work in the social sciences. We argue that this is not the case. ...

In their new article, Smit & Buekens argue Searle’s theory of institutional reality misfits individuation in the social sciences: institutions track rules—yielding disjunctive kinds that turn into odd legal pronouncements like “Somaliland isn’t a country”👇 philarchive.org/rec/SMIISA-5 #philsky #HPS

Further information is available at the following link: hiw.kuleuven.be/clps/events/...

Screenshot of the KU Leuven Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS) website showing details of a seminar titled CLPS Seminar: Auguste Nahas, Equilibrium Explanations and Teleology. The event is scheduled for October 3, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM (Europe/Brussels time) in room HIW1-01.20. Speaker: Auguste Nahas (IHPST, University of Paris 1-Sorbonne). Abstract Teleological explanations have two distinctive features that have been deemed problematic. First, they reverse the usual explanatory order of causal explanations by explaining a phenomenon in virtue of a consequence it brings about. Second, they involve normative considerations in so far as the goal sets standards of hypothetical requirement: there are good and appropriate ways of achieving a goal. Two possible strategies present themselves for making sense of these features. The eliminative strategy aims to show how these features may be translated without loss to an ordinary causal language that cites neither consequences nor normative facts. A naturalist strategy aims to show that these two distinctively teleological features are no impediment to its legitimacy as a form of explanation. Unfortunately, scholars intent on making sense of teleology are not always explicit about which strategy they are pursuing. A notable ambiguity in this area concerns negative feedback and equilibrium explanations, which have long been deemed candidates for teleology. However, it is not clear if these explanations fall into the eliminative or the naturalist strategy. In this paper, I review two prominent accounts of goal-directed behavior in terms of negative feedback and equilibrium seeking, to evaluate whether they lead to an eliminativist or reductive account of teleological explanation. I argue these modes of explanations can be rendered in two ways, one of which is fully eliminative, while the other preserves the consequence-explanatory character of teleology at the expense of its normative character.

If you are in Leuven tomorrow, join us for the first CLPS seminar of the academic year! Our speaker will be @augustenahas.bsky.social (IHPST, University of Paris 1–Sorbonne), who will present on negative feedback, equilibrium explanations, and their relationship to causation & #teleology #HPS #HPbio

The CLPS at KU Leuven has landed on Bluesky🦋 ✨️

Follow the page to stay updated on the latest research!

#philsky #philbio #academicsky

Screenshot of a Mind & Language journal article titled 'Generics are not existentially quantified' by Olivier Lemeire, Jan Heylen, and Leander Vignero, published online 29 May 2025, with DOI link https://doi.org/10.1111/mila.12564

Some argue that generics (e.g., "ravens are black") express existentially quantified rather than strong generalizations. In their recent paper, @olivierlemeire.bsky.social & CLPS colleagues counter this, defending the traditional view of generics 👇📃 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.... #philsky

J. P. Smit & Filip Buekens, Is Somaliland a Country? An Essay on Institutional Objects in the Social Sciences - PhilArchive Searle claims that his theory of institutional reality is particularly suitable as a theoretical scheme of individuation for work in the social sciences. We argue that this is not the case. ...

In their new article, Smit & Buekens argue Searle’s theory of institutional reality misfits individuation in the social sciences: institutions track rules—yielding disjunctive kinds that turn into odd legal pronouncements like “Somaliland isn’t a country”👇 philarchive.org/rec/SMIISA-5 #philsky #HPS

For those interested, let me say a bit more about the topic of our paper:

Take a generic sentence like "Ravens are black".

You probably take this to mean something like:

𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬.

That feels intuitive. But 𝐡𝐨𝐰 does that interpretation arise?

There are two views: (1/5)

Poster for a workshop organized by the Institute of Philosophy, KU Leuven, titled “Behavior Across the Tree of Life: Theoretical and Methodological Challenges.” The poster features circular images of lichens, bacteria, ants on a leaf, and a carnivorous plant with prey, symbolizing diverse behaving forms of life. Event details: 26–27 September 2025, Council Room (Raadzaal), Institute of Philosophy. Invited speakers: Kristin Aleklett, Silvia Guerra, Tobias Starzak, Kirsty Y. Wan. Organizers: Gianmaria Dani, Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda, and Grant Ramsey. KU Leuven logo appears at the top, with a QR code at the bottom right.

Tomorrow we kick off the workshop "Behavior Across the Tree of Life"! We have a stellar lineup of philosophers & scientists who will discuss theoretical and methodological challenges for building a cross-kingdom comparative behavioral biology. Exciting developments to follow! #philsci #evobio #HPBio

Screenshot of a Mind & Language journal article titled 'Generics are not existentially quantified' by Olivier Lemeire, Jan Heylen, and Leander Vignero, published online 29 May 2025, with DOI link https://doi.org/10.1111/mila.12564

Some argue that generics (e.g., "ravens are black") express existentially quantified rather than strong generalizations. In their recent paper, @olivierlemeire.bsky.social & CLPS colleagues counter this, defending the traditional view of generics 👇📃 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.... #philsky

I am quite excited to share a new preprint on the prospects for a 'metaphilosophy of science'—a second-order inquiry into the concepts, assumptions, aims, and methods that underpin philosophy of science itself. 👇📃 philsci-archive.pitt.edu/26661/ 1/3 #philsci #philsky #HPS #HPbio #metaphilosophy

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.

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

Thank you, Syed!

Thank you, Adrian!

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.

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