Saratov University was one of the organisers and venues for the 3rd Congress of the Russian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science. Having the motto After Postpositivism, it was timed to the 100th anniversary of the birth of philosophers Thomas Kuhn and Imre Lakatos. The congress members participated in the plenary sessions, panel discussions, and sections from September 8 to 10. A total of 283 participants from Russia and other countries have taken part in the congress this year.

The co-chairs of the committee of the Congress were President of the RSHPhSc, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Ilya Kasavin and Chair of the Department of Philosophy, Saratov State Law Academy, Igor Nevvazhai. The secretary of the committee was Associate Professor of the Department of Theoretical and Social Philosophy, SSU, Dennis Artamonov. Some scholars of Saratov University also helped organise the Congress, namely Chair of the Department of Theoretical and Social Philosophy Sergei Danilov, Professor of the same department Sofia Tikhonova, and Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Methodology of Science Vitalii Kosykhin.

On September 9, the second plenary session of the Congress was held in SSU Bldg. VIII. The meeting was opened by Vice-Rector for Research and Digital Development, SSU, Aleksei Koronovskii, who weclomed the guests of the scientific forum on behalf of SSU Rector Aleksei Chumachenko. ‘Saratov University trains specialists, conducts research in a wide range of fields, publishes fifteen journals of great importance for our country and the world community. We hold about two hundred conferences a year on various topics, and this event is very significant for us.’

Aleksei Koronovskii expressed gratitude to the organisers of the conference and emphasized that due to modern technologies we were able to share scientific and cultural experience, with the help of which it was possible to communicate with conference participants from all corners of not only Russia, but also the world.

‘I hope all participants will find out something new interesting work, listen to bright speeches, and take part in uncompromising scientific discussions. In addition, I hope that you will also have some rest, since the weather is good,’ Aleksei Koronovskii addressed to the audience.

The moderators of the plenary session included Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, SSU, Mikhail Orlov, Dean of the Faculty of Psychology, SSU, Lyudmila Aksenovskaya, Chair of the Department of Philosophy, SSLA, Igor Nevvazhay, President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Corresponding Member of RAS Ilya Kasavin, Chair of the Department of Philosophy of Science and Technology, St. Petersburg State University, Lada Shipovalova.

In total, three reports were made at the plenary session on that day. A scholar of the Russian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science Vladimir Porus spoke about political subjectivity of science   and new concept of this notion. He discussed approaches to the term “political subjectivity”, including from Karl Schmitt’s point of view, and the sphere of rational action in different historical situations. In addition, he commented on the description of historical dynamics by supporters of post-normal science.

Professor of the Higher School of Economics (Saint Petersburg) Grigorii Tulchinskii, having joined the meeting online, presented the report on post-positivism and prospects for the synthesis of science. After his speech, a discussion began in the hall, which caused a response from the guests and listeners of the plenary session.

The last to read the report was an American philosopher, Professor at the University of Warwick, the author of the book titled Social Epistemology, and the founder of social epistemology as a scientific field, Steve Fuller. He delivered his report in English and considered whether post-positivism would lead to pataphysics, and how did we get to life in the Metaverse.

The philosopher told the audience about the origin of the term “pataphysics”, its understanding, discussions, as well as how the idea of a modern “multiverse” appeared, which was based on the Erwin Schrodinger equation in quantum mechanics. Also, he spoke about the transformation of the multiverse pataphysics into a commodity that was sold by influential people of the Silicon Valley, including Mark Zuckerberg.

‘This is one of the most important philosophers of our time, who have honoured us with his attention and introduced our students to this. We must understand that science is independent, and it overcomes any boundaries and contradictions, so the question of understanding, dialogue, and constructive communication for researchers is the essentials,’ Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy Mikhail Orlov said about Steve Fuller. At the end of the plenary session, the members of the committee and moderators thanked the speakers for their reports.

You can find the programme of the 3rd Congress of the Russian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science here.