Philosophy In Science: Uncovering Hidden Assumptions

Philosophy In Science: Uncovering Hidden Assumptions, with Prof Sarah Sawyer, at 7:30pm on Wednesday 8th October 2025, Wagner Hall, West Street, Brighton

*** Please note that, starting from May 2025, our talks will start at 7:30pm. ***

Title: Philosophy In Science: Uncovering Hidden Assumptions

Outline of Talk: People often think of science and philosophy as being distinct ways of engaging with the world: science discovers objective truths about the universe through rigorous empirical testing, while philosophy provides subjective insights that, while of potential individual and social benefit, don't amount to hard facts. But is this right? In this talk, I'll suggest that scientific theories rest on implicit philosophical assumptions. I'll offer a couple of examples, and as a test case will focus specifically on consciousness science and its underlying philosophical assumptions.

Biography: Sarah Sawyer is Professor of Philosophy and Associate Dean for Research and Innovation at the University of Sussex. She is also currently Vice-Chair of the Royal Institute of Philosophy, Deputy Director of the Sussex Centre for Consciousness Science, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She studied German, French, and Philosophy as an undergraduate at St Andrews, and went on to complete an MPhil and a PhD in Philosophy at Kings College London. She has previously held academic posts at the University of St. Andrews, the University of Kansas, and the University of Nebraska. She works primarily in the philosophy of mind and language, and in epistemology and metaphysics. You can find out more about her here: Sarah Sawyer Profile | University of Sussex

Venue: The Wagner Hall, West Street, Brighton is adjacent to the Bright Helm pub, where cars enter the Orange Car Park of Churchill Square Shopping Centre.

Timing: Doors and bar open at 7:00pm. Talk starts at 7:30pm. Short break 8:15 approx, before Q&A. Event ends 8:45 approx.