Colloquium Marta Halina (University of Cambridge)

The Department of Theoretical Philosophy of the Faculty of Philosophy in Groningen will host a colloquium with Marta Halina (University of Cambridge) on "Intuitive Physics in Nonhuman Animals" on January 15 in room Omega.

The colloquium will start at 15:15. Everyone is most cordially invited.

Abstract

Comparative psychologists have spent the last few decades examining whether nonhuman animals understand the physical world in a way that is similar to humans. Broadly, human intuitive physics is thought to include a collection of abilities, such as knowing that solid objects continue to exist even when no longer perceived and that objects tend to fall unless prevented from doing so. In this talk, I introduce the empirical research program dedicated to investigating intuitive physics in nonhuman animals. I then show how current research in this area encounters problems of underdetermination. Finally, I propose a route forward: computational modelling combined with signature testing.