The HPS Podcast - Conversations from History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science HPS@UniMelb Samara Greenwood

Today's episode is dedicated to the often complex, sometimes fraught relationship between practicing scientists and the history of science. 

To discuss this topic, we are joined by two of the most distinguished scholars in the history of science, Lorraine Daston and Peter Harrison, who recently co authored an article for Aeon, urging for a fresh dialogue between scientists and historians. In the interview we cover the history of these tensions, tracing them back to the science wars of the 1990s, as well as talking about why and how these relations might be repaired.  

The great joy of this episode is not only its fascinating content, but the pleasure of listening to two HPS luminaries discussing topics so close to their heart. 

Links:
Aeon Article | 'Science and history cannot afford to be indifferent to each other'Lorraine Daston | MPIWGPeter Harrison | University of QueenslandTranscript:
www.hpsunimelb.org/post/s3-ep1-lorraine-daston-peter-harrison-transcript  Thanks for listening to The HPS Podcast with your current hosts, Samara Greenwood and Carmelina Contarino. You can find more about us on our blog, website, bluesky, twitter, instagram and facebook feeds. This podcast would not be possible without the support of School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne. www.hpsunimelb.org

Today's guest is Dr Kate Lynch, who will discuss the topic of 'causal explanation in science'. Kate is a philosopher of biology and a lecturer in HPS at the University of Melbourne.

In this episode Kate introduces us to the difference between 'causation' and 'causal explanation', as well as difficulties involved in assessing what makes a good causal explanation. 

Some of Kate's research looks at medical explanations of death, including the complications that can be involved in deciding what cause of death will be officially documented. We were fascinated to learn of the varied practical, political, and even social considerations that can shape what cause a physician ends up recording on a death certificate. We also appreciated the way Kate used concrete examples like this to draw us into further discussion of the role social values play in science, all the way  down to the core scientific task of articulating causal explanations for natural phenomena.

You can find more interviews with and by Kate on the ABC's Philosophers Zone below:
The philosophy of biology - ABC listenCausation and death - ABC listenWhat can genes tell us? - ABC listenOther relevant links:
Kate Lynch, Emily Parke & Maureen O'Malley 'How Causal are Microbiomes?'Kate Lynch '‘Gay gene’ testing apps aren’t just misleading – they’re dangerous'Kate Lynch 'Genes are not destiny: environment and education still matter when it comes to intelligence'James Woodward on Causal ExplanationPeter Menzies 'Difference Maker'Tania Lombrozo 'Simplicity and Probability in Causal Explanation'Knobe & Fraser 'Causal Judgement & Moral Judgement: Two Experiments'The transcript for this episode can be found at: https://www.hpsunimelb.org/post/s3-ep2-kate-lynch-transcript
Thanks for listening to The HPS Podcast with your current hosts, Samara Greenwood and Carmelina Contarino. You can find more about us on our blog, website, bluesky, twitter, instagram and facebook feeds. This podcast would not be possible without the support of School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne. www.hpsunimelb.org

Today's episode features Professor Anna Alexandrova from the University of Cambridge discussing a field she has pioneered - the Philosophy of Well-Being Science.

As Anna points out, well-being and happiness are now established phenomena for scientific research, particularly in the disciplines of psychology and economics. But does current scientific research produce knowledge that is properly about well-being? What kind of well-being? Should the goal be a single concept and single theory of well-being?
Anna persuasively argues that a ‘one-concept-or-one-theory-fits-all’ attitude is wrong-headed.

Instead, Anna suggests researchers should invest in tailoring the concept of ‘well-being’ for specific people in specific contexts. Furthermore, we must take into consideration the components of well-being, or better put – of human flourishing - that are meaningful to the people within those groups.

Relevant links for Anna:
Profile - Anna Alexandrova | HPS | University of CambridgeBook - A Philosophy for the Science of Well-Being | Oxford Academic (oup.com)Current work - The Many Dimensions of Wellbeing - Bennett Institute for Public PolicyMedia - Interviews and popular writings The transcript for this episode can be found at: https://www.hpsunimelb.org/post/s3-ep3-anna-alexandrova-transcript
Thanks for listening to The HPS Podcast with your current hosts, Samara Greenwood and Carmelina Contarino. You can find more about us on our blog, website, bluesky, twitter, instagram and facebook feeds. This podcast would not be possible without the support of School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne. www.hpsunimelb.org

In today’s episode we have assistant professor and philosopher of science, Dan Hicks, taking us through better understanding public scientific controversies.
‘Public scientific controversies’ is a term Dan uses to capture a broad variety of controversies that involve both science and the public. This would include controversies around vaccines, genetically modified foods, medical research and climate change.
In studying why controversies like these arise and persist, Dan has found our common explanations are not always fit for purpose. Controversies aren’t all of one type, so a blanket diagnosis like, "it is all due to the public not properly understanding the science" or alternatively "the problem is widespread distrust of science," is  not helpful.
Instead, Dan argues that what is required is more careful consideration of the specific processes and mechanisms at play in each case. Better diagnoses can then help us better determine appropriate and effective interventions.

Relevant links for Dan:
Profile - Dan Hicks - AboutResearch - Dan Hicks - ResearchDiscussion - Dan Hicks - philosophy of science, data science, environmental policyRelevant Article - Dan Hicks - Misinformation and trustworthiness: Frenemies in the analysis of public scientific controversiesOther links related to the episode:
The Dialectical Biologist | Levins & Lewontin'Sheepfarming after Chernobyl' | Brian WynneImpure Science: AIDS, Activism and the Politics of Knowledge | Steven EpsteinMerchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Climate Change | Naomi Oreskes & Erik Conway'The Green New Deal is already changing the terms of the climate action debate' (theconversation.com)The transcript for this episode can be found at: https://www.hpsunimelb.org/post/s3-ep4-dan-hicks-transcript
Thanks for listening to The HPS Podcast with your current hosts, Samara Greenwood and Carmelina Contarino. You can find more about us on our blog, website, bluesky, twitter, instagram and facebook feeds. This podcast would not be possible without the support of School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne. www.hpsunimelb.org

This week the team at The HPS Podcast are taking a mid-semester break!

To celebrate we are reposting one of our favourite episodes from Season 1 featuring Professor Greg Radick, a leading historian of biology at the University of Leeds.

In the podcast Greg discusses the use of counterfactuals in history of science - the term we use for asking ‘What if?’ questions about history - and their potential to subvert our conventional thinking. 
In Greg’s research, a central counterfactual question is: “What might biology be like now if a different side had triumphed in early debates on genetics?”

For example, might we be a little less deterministic about genetic inheritance and a little more embracing of contextual effects on human development?


By asking such seemingly simple ‘what if’ questions, fruitful new lines of investigation and alternative perspectives can open up.

A transcript of the interview can be found here: https://www.hpsunimelb.org/post/episode-5-transcript

Related links
Profile: Professor Gregory Radick | University of LeedsWebsite: Gregory Radick | Personal SiteBook: Disputed Inheritance: The Battle over Mendel and the Future of Biology Article: Teach students the biology of their time | Nature Thanks for listening to The HPS Podcast with your current hosts, Samara Greenwood and Carmelina Contarino. You can find more about us on our blog, website, bluesky, twitter, instagram and facebook feeds. This podcast would not be possible without the support of School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne. www.hpsunimelb.org

Today's guest is Dr Kirsten Walsh, a philosophy lecturer at the University of Exeter.
Kirsten’s research primarily focuses on Isaac Newton and his methodology, but she is careful to consider philosophical issues alongside a sensitivity and consideration for historical contexts.

In today’s episode Kirsten gives us a sense of how our historical understanding of Newton has changed over time, and the role various archival practices have played in what knowledge is developed.

Kirsten’s lively discussion gives us a wonderful insight into the detailed, everyday practices of Newton, but also of the archivists who decide what records are to be kept, and the historians who interrogate those documents in varying ways.

A transcript of the interview can be found here: https://www.hpsunimelb.org/post/s3-ep-6-kirsten-walsh-transcript

Related links
Website: Philosopher | Kirsten WalshPaper: 'The Unknown Newton' | Kirsten WalshPaper: 'Frameworks for Historians and Philosophers' | Currie & WalshBook: The Newton Papers | Sarah DryArchive: Newton Papers | Cambridge Digital Library Website: The Newton ProjectArchive: The Royal Society | Science in the MakingArticle: 'Newton goes digital' | Royal SocietyThanks for listening to The HPS Podcast with your current hosts, Samara Greenwood and Carmelina Contarino. You can find more about us on our blog, website, bluesky, twitter, instagram and facebook feeds. This podcast would not be possible without the support of School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne. www.hpsunimelb.org