Giovanni Sommaruga: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2021 |
| Name | Prof. Dr. Giovanni Sommaruga (Professor Université de Fribourg/Universität Freiburg) |
| Address | Dept. für Philosophie Av. de l'Europe 20 Univ. de Fribourg 1700 Fribourg SWITZERLAND |
| Telephone | 026 300 83 27 |
| giovanni.sommaruga@retired.ethz.ch | |
| Department | Humanities, Social and Political Sciences |
| Relationship | Lecturer |
| Number | Title | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 851-0165-00L | Questions Concerning the Philosophy of Mathematics, Theoretical Physics and Computer Science  | 3 credits | 2S | G. Sommaruga, S. Wolf | |
| Abstract | This seminar tackles questions of the philosophy of mathematics, of theoretical physics ad computer science which are rather non-standard such as: Are proofs really constitutive of mathematics? Why are applications of mathematics (to nature but also to mathematics itself) so fascinating and so hard to understand? etc. | ||||
| Learning objective | The objective is not so much to get acquainted with basic concepts and theories in the philosophy of mathematics, of theoretical physics and computer science, but to reflect in a methodical way about what lies at the origin of these philosophies. Students should learn to articulate questions arising during their studies and to pursue them in a more systematic way. | ||||
| Content | This seminar tackles questions of the philosophy of mathematics, of theoretical physics ad computer science which are rather non-standard such as: Are proofs really constitutive of mathematics? Why are applications of mathematics (to nature but also to mathematics itself) so fascinating and so hard to understand? Why do certain physical theories, e.g. quantum mechanics, need an "interpretation" whereas others don't? Is computer science part of discrete mathematics or a natural science? etc. | ||||