[Vdp] TODAY: IVC Talk: Jennifer Whyte (IVC Fellow) on "Towards a Waismannian theory of Conceptual Engineering", April 10, 4.45pm

Dear all, our next speaker in the Philosophy of Science Colloquium organized by the Institute Vienna Circle is Jennifer Whyte (IVC Fellow), who will give a talk on April 10, 4.45-6.15 pm. All are welcome! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Philosophy of Science Colloquium TALK: Jennifer Whyte (IVC Fellow) TOWARDS A WAISMANNIAN THEORY OF CONCEPTUAL ENGINEERING Philosophy of Science Colloquium The Institute Vienna Circle holds a Philosophy of Science Colloquium with talks by our present fellows. Date: 10/04/2025 Time: 16h45 Venue: New Institute Building (NIG), Universitätsstraße 7, 1010 Wien, HS 3A Abstract: Much philosophical attention has recently been paid to Conceptual Engineering - or, the intentional modification of concepts by philosophers in order to achieve epistemic, ethical, or political ends. The most controversial aspect of conceptual engineering are its aims, but there is also much debate over the mechanism by which the process could even be carried out. In this project, I will propose a mechanism derived from the work of Friedrich Waismann by which intentional conceptual amelioration can - and does - occur. I will then argue that this account of conceptual engineering solves a number of standing problems in the literature, but in doing so, places some key checks on the ambition of conceptual engineering as a project.