This workshop explores new directions in the recent debate on ontological indeterminacy. There has been a long-standing debate about whether fundamental physics leads to indeterminacy. Recently, however, the idea that there may be other types of worldly indeterminacy as well is receiving growing attention. Eddy Keming Chen argues that there may be nomic indeterminacy. Other arguments suggest that there may be causal indeterminacy and that future indeterminacy is not just due to epistemic limitations, but a real feature of the world.
The goal of this workshop is to determine where indeterminacy exists in the world and what this implies for our interpretation of fundamental physics and broader topics in metaphysics and the philosophy of science, such as theories of the laws of nature, theories of causation, and time and the future.
The workshop is organized by members of the project Worldly Indeterminacy at the University of Bern (worldlyindeterminacy.com). If you would like to attend, please send a short message to indeterminacy.philo@unibe.ch„>indeterminacy.philo@unibe.ch by September 1, 2026.
Talks:
„Algorithmic Randomness, Exchangeability, and the Principal Principle“ – Eddy Keming Chen (University of California, San Diego)
„Metaphysical Indeterminacy Beyond Standard Physics“ – Baptiste Le Bihan (University of Geneva)
„Sources of Causal Indeterminacy“ – Max Kistler (University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne)
„Spacetime Indeterminacy in Quantum Gravity: Some Reflections“ – Vincent Lam (University of Bern)
„Indeterminate Causation: The Case of the Quantum Switch“ – Laurie Letertre (LMU München)
„Nomic Indeterminacy in Physics: The Noise of Physical Laws“ – Vera Matarese (University of Perugia)
„Indeterminate Laws of Nature“ – Robert Michels (Goethe University Frankfurt)
tba – Jonas Werner (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)
