Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the Winter 2024 Lecture Series on the Philosophy of Science at Seoul National University, featuring Professor Jun Otsuka from Kyoto University. Hosted by the Institute for Data Science Innovation and the Institute of Philosophical Studies, the series will center on the theme “Thinking About Statistics in the Era of AI.”

Over the course of two lectures on December 17 and 18, Professor Otsuka will guide us through a deep exploration of the philosophical foundations of statistics and their implications in the age of artificial intelligence. We warmly invite your participation.

To attend, please register through the following link:
[https://forms.gle/yDAHU6z69pwYqAfj7]

Lecture Theme: Thinking About Statistics in the Era of AI
Speaker: Professor Jun Otsuka (Kyoto University)
Moderator: Professor Hyundeuk Cheon (Seoul National University)

Program

Lecture 1: Thinking About Statistics I: Bridging the gap between statistics and epistemology

• Date: Tuesday, December 17, 2024, 4:00–6:00 PM
• Venue: Room 208, Building 25, Seoul National University
• Summary: This session examines the epistemological foundations of Bayesian and frequentist statistics, highlighting their distinct approaches to inductive reasoning and "justified inference." Topics include Bayesian internalist epistemology, frequentist externalist epistemology, the challenges of prior probabilities, and the p-value problem.

Lecture 2: Thinking About Statistics II: Ontological implications of model selection, machine learning, and causal inference

• Date: Wednesday, December 18, 2024, 4:00–6:00 PM
• Venue: Room 208, Building 25, Seoul National University
• Summary: This lecture explores the ontological implications of statistical and machine learning methodologies such as model selection, deep learning, and causal inference. Emphasis will be placed on their differing approaches to modeling "real patterns" and evaluating intervention outcomes, with insights into their respective strengths and limitations.

About the Speaker
Jun Otsuka is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Kyoto University and a visiting researcher at the RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project in Japan. His research focuses on the philosophy of science, particularly in statistics, machine learning, and evolutionary biology. His work has appeared in journals such as Philosophy of Science, The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, and Proceedings of Machine Learning Research.

Organizers: Institute for Data Science Innovation, Institute of Philosophical Studies
Sponsor: SNU G-LAMP Project Team
Contact: Bonjin Koo (koobon1998@snu.ac.kr)

We look forward to your interest and participation.

Sincerely,
Institute for Data Science Innovation and Institute of Philosophical Studies