Parts and Wholes: A Lecture on Applied Mereology
Philosophy Guest Lecture: "Parts and Wholes: A Lecture on Applied Mereology" By Einar Bohn
Ontology is the study of what there is. Mereology is the study of the part-whole relation. Applied Mereology is the study of the part-whole relation applied to what there is. Philosophers and scientists have historically been interested in whether there is, or must be a "bottom level" to nature. That is, they've asked whether nature can be infinitely divisible, as opposed to consisting of basic atomic entities with no further parts. Bohn will be interested in the reverse question which has garnered less attention: is there, or must there be a "top level" to nature? That is, Bohn asks whether nature must be a whole, of which everything is a part.
Bohn is a senior graduate student in the philosophy department. He holds a BA and an MA in philosophy from the University of Oslo, Norway and was a Fullbright fellow in 2004. He currently teaches Intro to Philosophy, and he will lecture on his research.
This event is hosted by the UMass Undergrad Philosophical Society.