Soazig LeBihan
University of Montana, USA
Fall Term 2011
Analysis of the Epistemic Value of False TMS

Soazig’s goal at the Center is to conduct an analysis of the epistemic value of false scientific theories, models and simulations.  She wants to explore the idea that one of the epistemic values of false theories, models and simulations is to provide understanding.  More precisely, she hopes to defend the claim that if false theories and models fail to provide us with an explanation of how things are, they provide us with some understanding of how things could be.  She intends to flesh out this claim by articulating a notion of understanding as an instance of knowledge of structures and patterns of both a modal and a manipulative kind.

A former student at the Ecole Normale Supérieure of Paris, Soazig studied both philosophy and physics in Paris, and earned a double Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Nancy and the University of Bielefeld in 2008.  Her previous research interests mainly focused on Bell’s theorem and on the Semantic View. She has been an Assistant Professor in Philosophy at the University of Montana since August 2008.

Besides pondering about the epistemic value of scientific theories, Soazig enjoys spending time with her family, hiking in the mountains, and sailing in the oceans.  Whenever mountains or oceans are not immediately available, she enjoys running and swimming.