Online Reading Group Modelling and Representation in Physics
Starting on Monday the 2nd of February at 16h00, a weekly online reading group on representation and modelling in physics will take place. The aim of the group is to discuss philosophy of science literature on modelling and representation, and how it broadly applies to various areas in physics, from theoretical physics to engineering. We will read early formative papers on modelling and representation, as well as contemporary papers that focus on more specific themes in the literature, including realism, perspectivism, and modelling practices.
How to join:
If you are interested in joining the reading group and would like to stay updated or want to receive the Microsoft Teams link, please email Thijs Latten (t.m.k.latten@tudelft.nl) and/or Sanne Vergouwen (s.h.vergouwen@uu.nl). Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Practical details:
Frequency: Weekly
Time: Mondays 16h00-17h00
Duration: 8 sessions, 2 February – 30 March 2026
Location: Online
Schedule:
| Date | Reading | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 02/02/2026 | Chapter 2 (27 pages) of: Morrison, M., & Morgan, M. (1999). Models as mediators. Perspectives on Natural and Social Science. Cambridge University Press. |
| 2 | 09/02/2026 | Teller, P. (2001). Twilight of the Perfect Model Model. Erkenntnis (1975–), 55(3), 393–415. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20013097 |
| 3 | 16/02/2026 | Giere, R. N. (2004). How Models Are Used to Represent Reality. Philosophy of Science, 71(5), 742–752. https://doi.org/10.1086/425063 |
| 23/02/2026 | Break – no reading group | |
| 4 | 02/03/2026 | Knuuttila, T., Boon, M. (2011). How do models give us knowledge? The case of Carnot’s ideal heat engine. Euro J. Phil. Sci. 1, 309. |
| 5 | 09/03/2026 | Massimi, M. (2018). Perspectival Modeling. Philosophy of Science, 85(3), 335–359. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26551930 |
| 6 | 16/03/2026 | Psillos, S. (2011). Living with the abstract: realism and models. Synthese, 180(1), 3–17. |
| 7 | 23/03/2026 | Knuuttila, T., & Morgan, M. S. (2019). Deidealization: No easy reversals. Philosophy of Science, 86(4), 641–661. |
| 8 | 30/03/2026 | Reading to be determined. Open to suggestions. |