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EINSTEIN meets MAGRITTE
An interdisciplinary reflection on science, nature,
human action and society
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
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Conference to mark the 25th anniversary of the
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Brussels, Belgium
29 May - 3 June 1995
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Leo Apostel (Ghent), Diederik Baetens (Ghent), Werner Callebaut
(Diepenbeek), Maria Louisa Dalla Chiara (Firenze), Robert Halleux (Li=E8ge)=
,
Staf Hellemans (Berlin), Gilbert Hottois (Brussels), Peter Mittelstaedt
(K=F6ln), Jan Van der Veken (Leuven), Phillippe Van Parijs
(Louvain-La-Neuve).
Chairperson of the Organizing Committee:
Christiaan Sybesma
Scientific and Artistic Coordinator:
Diederik Aerts
The Conference is co-organised by CLEA, an interdisciplinary research
centre at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, that is exploring problems and
possiblities of interdisciplinary research.
----------------------
INTRODUCTION
Never before has humanity made such an attempt to take its fate into its
own hands (science and technology). The increasing speed of current global
changes, however, leads to a sense of disorientation. Need this paradox be
resolved, and if so, can it be dealt with from a perception that knowledge
and actions lead to ever larger fragmentation?
Different attitudes prevail, involving respectively:
(1) an attempt to reconstitute a form of unity, often projecting the hope
that the alleged unwanted effects of scientific and technological progress
will become comprehensible and eventually controllable;
(2) a relativist attitude, depicting the modern worldview, with its
instruments and products (western science and technology), as one among
many conceivable, and probably not the most desirable, course for humanity.
Each of these attitudes tends to portray the other as a caricature.
'Relativists' stigmatize attempts at unification as dictatorial, unfeasible
and naive. Relativism, in its turn, is said to lead anywhere and nowhere at
all.
The aim of the conference is to gather together scholars from different
domains and creative performers, to set up a dialogue between the above
attitudes, and integrate the more relevant insights of both into a new
perspective on global change.
We have taken up the two myths of Albert Einstein and Rene Magritte,
because we believe that significant clues might be revealed at the place
where they meet. How does science (producing knowledge and technology)
confront art (producing revelations and sensations)? Do we have to oppose
life 'within object' (the conscious ordering of the physical and social
world, symbolized in 'Einstein') to a form of life 'beyond object'
(symbolized in the imagery of Magritte)?
----------------------
SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME
Sunday, May 28, 1995
14:00 - 18:00 Registrations
Monday, May 29, 1995
07:30 - 12:00 Registrations
12:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 15:00 Opening Ceremony
Welcome by the Rector of the University
15:00 - 16:00 Plenary session 1
Ilya PRIGOGINE, University of Brussels, Belgium
The End of Certitudes
16:00 - 16:30 Coffee break
16:30 - 17:30 Plenary session 2
John ZIMAN, Bristol University, United Kingdom
Basically, it's purely academic
17:30 - 18:30 Plenary session 3
Rom HARRE
Einstein's Narratives
20:00 Workshop I Science, Society and the University
Tuesday, May 30, 1995
09:00 - 10:00 Plenary session 4
Barbara HERNNSTEIN-SMITH, Duke University, USA
The Microdynamics of Incommensurability: The Example of
Philip Kitcher's 'Advancement of Science'
10:00 - 11:00 Plenary session 5
Francisco J. VARELA, Ecole Polytechnique in Paris, France
Brain and Consciousness. The Hard problems
11:00 - 11:30 Coffee break
11:30 - 13:00 Parallel sessions (3) A1 - A2 - A3
(contributed papers)
13:00 - 14:30 Lunch
14:30 - 17:00 Parallel sessions (3) B1 - B2 - B3
(contributed papers)
15:00 - 17:00 Doctor Honoris Causa Ceremony
20:00 Banquet
Wednesday, May 31, 1995
09:00 - 13:00 Satellite Symposia
09:00 - 13:00 Parallel sessions (5) C1 - C2 - C3 - C4 - C5
(contributed papers)
Coffee bar from 10:30 till 11:30 without programme break
13:00 - 14:30 Lunch
14:30 - 15:30 Plenary session 6
Robert EDWARDS, Cambridge University, United Kingdom
Human Conception in Today's Society
15:30 - 16:30 Plenary session 7
Adolf GRUNBAUM, University of Pittsburgh, USA
The Hermeneutic versus the Scientific Conception of
Psychoanalysis. An Unsuccessful Effort to Chart a
Prototype for the Human Sciences
16:30 - 17:00 Coffee break
17:00 - 18:00 Plenary session 8
Zygmunt BAUMAN, Leeds University, United Kingdom
Postmodern Adventures of Immortality
20:00 Workshop II The Nature of Life and Death
Thursday, June 1, 1995
09:00 - 13:00 Satellite Symposia
09:00 - 13:00 Parallel sessions (5) D1 - D2 - D3 - D4 -D5
(contributed papers)
'Coffee bar' from 10:30 till 11:30 without programme break
13:00 - 14:30 Lunch
14:30 - 15:30 Plenary session 9
Bas VAN FRAASSEN, Princeton University, USA
The Scientific Image and the Manifest Image
15:30 - 16:30 Plenary session 10
Linda SCHELE, Austin Texas University, USA
Cosmos in Ancient Maya Symbolism
16:30 - 17:00 Coffee break
17:00 - 18:00 Plenary session 11
Robert PIRSIG, United Kingdom
Subjects, Objects, Data and Values
18:00 - 19:00 Plenary session 12
Julian JAYNES, Princeton University, USA
Consciousness and the Voices of the Mind.
20:30 Workshop III Worldviews and the Problem of Synthesis
=46riday, June 2, 1995
09:00 - 13:00 Satellite Symposia
09:00 - 13:00 Parallel sessions (5) E1 - E2 - E3 - E4 -E5
(contributed papers)
Coffee bar from 10:30 till 11:30 without programme break
13:00 - 14:30 Lunch
14:30 - 15:30 Plenary session 13
W. BRIAN ARTHUR, Santa Fe Institute, USA
Human Reasoning and the End of Certainty in Economics
15:30 - 16:30 Plenary session 14
Heinz VON FOERSTER, California, USA
This is not Albert Einstein
16:30 - 17:00 Coffee break
17:00 - 18:00 Plenary session 15
Constantin PIRON, Switzerland
Quanta and Relativity: Two Failed Revolutions
20:00 Dance Performance Rosas/ Anne Teresa DE KEERSMAEKER
Saturday 3 June 1995
10:00 - 12:30 Open Tribune
12:30 - 14:30 Lunch
14:30 - 17:00 Workshop IV A World in Transition
17:00 - 17:30 Closing Ceremony
Night performances from the work of Jan FABRE will be scheduled throughout
the conference.
----------------------
TOPICS of the Parallel Sessions
Worldviews
Science and Art
University, Science Policy and Society
A world in transition
Man and Nature
The Nature of Life and Death
Sociology of Science
Aspects of Ecology
Global Changes
Einstein and Physics
Magritte and Surrealism
WORKSHOPS
=46our workshops will be held during the conference. (see programme)
A panel of scientists and artists, consisting of the invited speakers and
other invited specialists, will introduce the theme of each workshop by
means of a discussion.
SATELLITE SYMPOSIA
Three satellite symposia will be organized during the conference :
Satellite symposium 1:
"Chaotic Crossings: nonlinear dynamics in human biology and behaviour"
=46ew areas of cross-disciplinary science are advancing as rapidly as those
associated with chaos theory, fractals and complexity. The juxtaposition of
discovery, development, and applications of analysis derived from these
emerging areas of mathematics and physics is concurrently generating
considerable excitement and skepticism. What is the substance of the newer
analytical methods? How are they helping to advance our understanding of
human biology and behaviour? Where are they leading us? What are their
promises and problems for the structure and conduct of scientific inquiry?
This symposium will convene a broad cross-section of expertise to address
these and related questions. It is organized by the Foundation for
International Nonlinear Dynamics (FIND) that serves as a focus for change
specifically related to the emerging areas of mathematics and physics
associated with chaos theory, as they may apply to human systems and the
environment.
Satellite symposium 2:
"Quantum Physics and the Nature of Reality"
Coordinators: D. Aerts (Brussels) and J. Pykacz (Gdansk)
Based on studies of the properties of matter, the spectra of atoms and the
motion of charged particles, quantum mechanics provided an extra-ordinary
new framework for portraying physical reality. It is now recognized that
quantum mechanics is basic not only to physics but to chemistry, biology
and many of the other sciences. Beyond this, quantum mechanics has lead to
the creation of new industries, such as semiconductors and optical
communication, and has opened new paths of technology through the creation
of exotic materials and devices like the laser, and the transistor, which
contributed to the omnipresent computer. This development stimulates the
theoretical study of quantum systems from the point of view of general
systems theory, and the introduction of clear, well understood, physical
concepts in the quantum domain is becoming an urgent and profound need.
The aim of the symposium is to explore the idea that the study of quantum
structures, in all its facets, is an important part of the development of
an integrated worldview and scientific praxis.
Satellite symposium 3:
"The Evolution of Complexity: Evolutionary and cybernetic foundations for
transdisciplinary integration"
Coordinator: F. Heylighen (Brussels)
This symposium discusses in which way theories of evolution and
self-organization, on the one hand, and systems theory and cybernetics, on
the other hand, can contribute to the development of an integrated world
view. The basic theme is that evolution leads to the spontaneous emergence
of systems of higher complexity or "intelligence": from elementary
particles, via atoms, molecules, living cells, multicellular organisms,
plants, and animals to human beings, culture and society. This development
can be understood with the help of concepts such as selection, variety,
hierarchy, autonomy, control, cognition, and metasystem transition. This
symposium constitutes the 5th official meeting of the Principia Cybernetica
Project, an organization aiming at the computer-supported collaborative
development of an evolutionary-systemic philosophy.
----------------------
Contributed papers
Participants are encouraged to present a contributed paper by means of an
oral communication or a poster.
=46or the submission of a contributed paper and to help us shape the final
form of the conference, we ask you to send in the following information:
(1) the abstract (read carefully and respect the typing instructions
mentioned on the form)
(2) make full reference to other parts of your scientific work;
(3) indicate whether you prefer an oral communication or a poster presentati=
on;
(4) mention your main area of research and/or field of interest;
(5) give any other information concerning your participation that might be
relevant for finalizing the programme.
We would like to receive your abstract as soon as possible; the ultimate
deadline for acceptance is 15 April, 1995.
We prefer to receive abstracts by e-mail on the address: einmag@vub.ac.be.
In this case the author should put his or her surname in the e-mail header.
All abstracts will be refereed by the Scientific Committee. All accepted
abstracts will be published in an abstract book.
Poster presentations
Posters will be on display during the meeting in a special poster area
adjacent to the session area. Each participant presenting a poster will
have a poster board available. The poster should not be more than 200 cm
high and 100 cm wide.
----------------------
GENERAL CONFERENCE INFORMATION
Venue:
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Aula Q
Pleinlaan 2
1050 Brussels
BELGIUM
Conference Secretariat:
=46or all enquiries regarding registration, hotel accomodation, social
events, general information, invitation letters etc. please contact:
Congress Office Orga-Med
Mrs Ria Maes
Essenestraat 77
B-1740 Ternat
BELGIUM
Tel. 32 2 582 08 52
=46ax 32 2 582 55 15
e-mail: einmag@vub.ac.be
=46or all information regarding the academic, scientific and artistic aspect=
s
of the conference, please contact:
Diederik Aerts,
TENA, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2,
1050 Brussels, Belgium
Tel. 32 2 629 27 16
=46ax 32 15 22 51 98 or 32 2 629 38 23
e-mail: diraerts@vub.ac.be
----------------------
REGISTRATION DETAILS
=46ees
----
=46ull registration before 1 May 1995 13,000 BEF (ca. US$ 406 )
After 1 May 1995 15,000 BEF (ca. US$ 469 )
On-site registration 17,000 BEF (ca. US$ 531)
Single-day registration* 3,000 BEF (ca. US$ 94)
*Those participants who want to limit their attendance to the meeting to
one or two days, can book for one or two single registrations. Those who
want to participate more than two single days should subscribe for the
whole Conference and should pay for full registration.
Lunches will be served in the Conference area but remain optional. Please
indicate your choice on the registration form. Lunch tickets will be for
sale at the registration desk.
The price for lunch is 350 BEF (ca. US $11).
The registration fee for participants includes:
- admission to all scientific sessions
- programme and abstract book
- certificate of attendance
- special performance Jan Fabre & Rosas / Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker
- coffee during breaks
Conference proceedings "Einstein meets Magritte" will be published after
the meeting. All participants will receive an invitation to subscribe at
the appropriate time.
Payment
-------
Payment in Belgian Francs (BEF) should be made in advance by means of:
1. Bank or postal transfer payable to 'Einstein meets Magritte, F 29892'
account number: 001-0686455-62,
ASLK, Agency VUB Oefenplein, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels
All charges must be prepaid by the participants themselves.
Please, do not forget to mention your name and 'Einstein meets
Magritte, F29892' in the reference box.
2. Banker's draft
Banker's draft forwarded together with the registration form. The
banker's draft should be purchased at your bank and made out in Belgian
Francs (BEF) to 'Einstein meets Magritte, F29892'.
Personal or company cheques are not accepted, except for Eurocheques with a
maximum of 7,000- BEF per cheque provided that they are crossed.
All charges must be prepaid by the participants themselves.
Scholarships
------------
A limited number of scholarships to attend the conference will be
available. You can apply for scholarship support at the Einstein meets
Magritte congress office.
Submit a declaration of necessity, curriculum vitae and at least one letter
of recommendation. Deadline for application: 15 April 1995.
Accomodation
------------
Hotels can be booked via the enclosed hotel registration form. Participants
that prefer more economical lodging need to register via the enclosed form
as well. From Sunday 28 May to Saturday 3 June 1995, free camping will be
possible on the campus of the University. The necessary facilities will be
available.
A limited number of student accomodations are available and will be
attributed on a first come first serve basis.
Transportation
--------------
Brussels lies at the heart of Europe and can easily be reached either by
airplane, train or car. The Vrije Universiteit Brussel, which is the
Conference venue, is situated in the South-Eastern part of Brussels,
approximately 3 km from the center.
Conference Banquet
------------------
The evening banquet will be held on Tuesday, 30 May 1995 at 08.00 p.m. in
Hotel Metropole, downtown. The number of places available is limited.
Registrations for the banquet will therefore be treated on a first-come
first-serve base. A contribution of 1,750 BEF per person is charged.
Accompanying Persons Programme
------------------------------
One-day guided visits to Brussels, Antwerp, Lessive and Grotto of Han,
Bruges, and Spa will be organized, for a prize of approximately 2,500 BEF
per day.
_____________________________________________________________________
REGISTRATION FORM
To return to:
Congress Office Orga-Med, Ms Ria Maes
Essenestraat 77, B-1740 Ternat, BELGIUM
=46ax 32 2 582 55 15,
e-mail: einmag@vub.ac.be
IDENTIFICATION
Name: First name:
Affiliation:
Institute:
Department:
Street & number:
Code and City:
Country:
Tel.:
=46ax
e-mail:
Accompanying person(s), Name(s):
I want to receive further correpondence
O by ordinary mail O by e-mail
Send me an official letter of invitation 0 yes 0 no
REGISTRATION DETAILS
A. Main programme
0 Full registration before 15 April 1995 13,000 BEF
0 Full registration after 15 April 1995 15,000 BEF
0 On-site registration 17,000 BEF
0 Single-day registration 3,000 BEF
0 29 May 1995
0 30 May 1995
0 31 May 1995
0 1 June 1995
0 2 June 1995
0 3 June 1995
Subtotal A ....... BEF
B. Accompanying persons programme
(please read announcement for programme details)
0 Day-tour in Brussels, 29 May 2,520 BEF
0 Day-tour to Antwerp, 30 May 3,410 BEF
0 Day-tour to Lessive, 31 May 2,660 BEF
0 Day-tour to Brughes, 1 June 2,730 BEF
0 Day-tour to Spa, 2 June 1,890 BEF
Subtotal B ....... BEF
C. Banquet
0 I will attend with ... persons at 1,750 BEF pp
Subtotal C ....... BEF
D. Lunches at 350 BEF per lunch (please tick your choice in 0 )
0 Monday 29 May 1995
0 Tuesday 30 May 1995
0 Wednesday 31 May 1995
0 Thursday 1 June 1995
0 Friday 2 June 1995
0 Saturday 3 June 1995
Subtotal D ....... BEF
_______________________
TOTAL ....... BEF
PAYMENT METHOD
Please indicate method of payment
0 Bank to bank transfer to ASLK, Agency VUB Oefenplein, Pleinlaan 2,
B-1050 Brussels, Belgium, Account number: 001-0686455-62
Please mention your name,'Einstein meets Magritte' and 'F29892'.
0 Banker's draft
0 Eurocheque with a maximum of 7,000 BEF per cheque
Signature: Date:
_____________________________________________________________________
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION FORM
To return to:
'Einstein meets Magritte', Theoretical Physics, TENA,
University of Brussels, Pleinlaan 2,
B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
Deadline for abstracts: April, 15, 1995
Name: First name:
Affiliation:
Institute:
Department:
Street & number:
Code and City:
Country:
Tel.:
=46ax :
e-mail:
I want to receive further correpondence
0 by ordinary mail 0 by e-mail
I want my abstract to be considered for:
0 free communication 0 poster
Typing instructions for the abstract:
- The abstracts should be written in English.
- Authors should use a maximum of one single page for their abstract.
- The header of the page should contain the title, the author with surname
first, followed by initials, and the institution identified with full
address.
Please read carefully the guidelines in the second announcement.
_______________________________________________________________________
HOTEL RESERVATION FORM
To return before April 15, 1995, only by ordinary mail, to the Conference
Secretariat:
Ms Ria Maes, Orga-Med, Congress-Office,
Essenestraat 77, B-1740 Ternat, Belgium
Tel ca.32 (0)2 582 08 52
=46ax ca.32 (0)2 582 55 15
Name & First name: ..........................
Address:.....................................
Zip code/City: ..............................
Country: ....................................
Tel.: ..................Fax:.................
Arrival date: ....../../95 Departure date: ......./../95
Number of nights: .........
Please tick choice of hotel and room:
Second choice: ......................
O Single O Double
O Hilton Hotel Brussels 6,200 BEF 7,000 BEF
O Hotel Metropole 4,500 BEF 6,000 BEF
O Holiday Inn 4,250 BEF 4,400 BEF
O Ibis 3,975 BEF 4,300 BEF
O Lower Budget hotels 2,000 - 2,800 BEF 2,400 - 3,250 BEF
(all prices include breakfast and taxes).
O 'Economical solutions':
O I use my own tent
O I would like to rent a tent
O I am interested in student accommodation
(limited number, first come first serve basis)
CONDITIONS FOR HOTEL RESERVATIONS
No deposit is requested. Written confirmation after receipt of credit-card
data as guarantee. Payment will be made in the hotel. For cancellations
more than 3 weeks before arrival, 500 BEF will be charged. Three weeks
before arrival : one night will be charged ca. 500 BEF. No show: all
reserved nights will be charged ca. 500 BEF
Cardnumber: ......................
Exp.date: ........................
Company: O Eurocard/Master O Visa
O American Express O Diners
Date: ...........
Signature:
-----------------------------------------------------
More information about this conference is available on the World-Wide Web,
at URL:
http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/Conf/EinmagAn.html
You can get WWW documents by email, by sending the message "SEND " followed
by the requested URL, to either agora@mail.w3.org or test-list@info.cern.ch
(send "HELP" for more details).