The Institute for Social Sciences is pleased to host a special seminar aimed at fostering the exchange of diverse academic ideas. We warmly invite you to join us for this seminar in the second semester of 2024.

Statistics holds a privileged position in modern science as a structured framework for numerically justifying empirical hypotheses based on data. However, such inductive reasoning inherently depends on philosophical assumptions about the nature of the subject matter and the ways it can be understood.

The first half of this talk delves into the ontological and epistemological foundations of traditional statistical frameworks, namely Bayesian and Frequentist approaches. Philosophical examination reveals the essence of these methodologies as well as the challenges and limitations they face.

In the second half, the focus shifts to the evolving role of statistics in contemporary scientific practice. AI-driven methodologies, such as deep neural networks, increasingly take over the justificatory role traditionally held by statistics in the 20th century. These methods handle complex, high-dimensional data with exceptional efficiency and adaptability, but their opacity raises concerns. The talk will explore how the adoption of these powerful yet opaque techniques affects scientific ideals, including rationality, objectivity, understandability, and science’s role as a public good.

Details:

• Speaker: Jun Otsuka (Kyoto University)
• Moderator: Professor Yoonkyu Son (Department of Sociology)
• Date: Thursday, December 19, 2024
• Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
• Venue: Faculty Meeting Room, College of Social Sciences, Building 16, Room 312

Additional Information:

• A light meal will be provided during the seminar.
• The seminar will also be streamed live on Zoom:
  Zoom Link
  Meeting ID: 822 880 5475

For inquiries, please contact: css@snu.ac.kr / +82-2-880-5475

Thank you for your interest and support in the Institute for Social Sciences.
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