Reminders for the upcoming week:

(1) Cognitive Area Seminar Dirk Schlimm Title: Analogies in mathematical domains

Abstract: The structure-mapping theory has become the de facto standard account of analogies in cognitive science and philosophy of science. In this talk I introduce a distinction between two kinds of domains and I show how the account of analogies based on structure-preserving mappings fails in certain (object-rich) domains, which are very common in mathematics, and how the axiomatic approach to analogies, which is based on a common linguistic description of the analogs in terms of laws or axioms, can be used successfully to explicate analogies of this kind. Thus, the two accounts of analogies should be regarded as complementary, since each of them is adequate for explicating analogies that are drawn between different kinds of domains. In addition, I illustrate how the account of analogies based on axioms has also considerable practical advantages, for example, for the discovery of new analogies. (2) After the talk (17:00), we will gather in Thompson House for the Journal Blitz; join us to tell us about an article you have read recently, hear about what others have read, and discuss (over beer and nachos or drinks and snacks of your choice).

- Friday November 28 - 15:30 - 17:00 - S3/4 Stewart Biology Building

(2) Journal Blitz Join us to tell us about an article you have read recently, hear about what others have read, and discuss (over beer and nachos or drinks and snacks of your choice).

- Friday November 28 - 17:00 (after the talk) - Thomson House

Please forward this message to your students and other interested parties. Thanks,

Amélie

Please forward this message to your students and other interested parties. Thanks,

Amélie

-- Amélie Bernard Graduate Student, MIDC Department of Psychology McGill University http://www.psych.mcgill.ca/labs/midccdem/