SPiN (Science & Philosophy in Namur) est un centre de recherche de l'Institut ESPHIN réunissant philosophes et scientifiques qui interrogent les sciences dans toute leur diversité, en croisant les approches épistémologiques, métaphysiques, politiques et éthiques.
Pluridisciplinaire et ouvert aux grands enjeux contemporains, SPiN explore les enjeux philosophiques des diverses disciplines des sciences naturelles, sociales, humaines et formelles.
Ses travaux, à la fois académiques et engagés, visent à mieux comprendre ce que sont les sciences, comment elles fonctionnent, comment les distinguer de ce qu’elles ne sont pas ou encore quels rôles elles jouent dans notre société.
A propos de SPiN
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SPiN: a new research center for a new way of thinking about science
SPiN: a new research center for a new way of thinking about science
At a time when misinformation, post-truths and conspiracies are undermining confidence in science, UNamur welcomes SPiN (Science & Philosophy in Namur), a new interdisciplinary research center that questions the place of science in society. Founded last September by Olivier Sartenaer, Professor of Philosophy of Science at UNamur, SPiN brings together philosophers and scientists around a common vision: to develop a critical and accessible reflection on science in all its diversity.
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Olivier Sartenaer's team: Doan Vu Duc, Maxime Hilbert, Charly Mobers, Olivier Sartenaer, Louis Halflants, Andrea Roselli, Gauvain Leconte-Chevillard, Eve-Aline Dubois.
While UNamur is distinguished by the presence of a Philosophy of Science department within its Faculty of Science, until now there has been no research center specifically dedicated to the epistemological, ethical, political and metaphysical challenges of science. SPiN fills this gap.
"Several contingent factors enabled the creation of SPiN: the absence of a research structure specifically dedicated to these themes and the almost simultaneous arrival of four young philosophers of science. It's a bit like an alignment of the planets", explains Olivier Sartenaer.
At his side are Juliette Ferry-Danini (Faculty of Computer Science), Thibaut De Meyer (Faculty of Philosophy and Letters) and Gaëlle Pontarotti (Faculty of Science), who form the core of SPiN.
Responding to strong societal demand
SPiN is part of a research dynamic committed to the heart of contemporary debates.
There is a real need for citizens to be enlightened on these issues. It was important for us that a research structure reflect this growing societal demand and host research on these themes.
SPiN researchers explore a wide range of themes, against a backdrop of questioning our relationship to scientific knowledge. These include:
- the relationship between science and pseudoscience;
- reductionism in science;
- genetic determinism and heredity;
- medical ethics and public health (vaccinations, pandemics);
- ethology,
- perspectivism.
This research is carried out by an interdisciplinary team of teacher-researchers, doctoral students and post-docs from the various faculties of UNamur.
An academic meeting place...but also a civic meeting place
SPiN organizes weekly seminars devoted to current research in philosophy of science, as well as seminars linked to more specific themes: health, life sciences, cosmology and theories of emergence and reductionism in the natural sciences.
But SPiN is not limited to the academic sphere: the center intends to take these issues outside the university walls, through events and activities accessible to all. An inaugural event is already planned for next spring on a topical theme: mistrust in science. More info to come!