Uncertainty
Navigating the Unpredictable in Society, Cognition, and Existence
Ringvorlesung Institut für Volkswirtschaftlehre und Asien-Orient-Institut
How do we navigate a world with actual and perceived uncertainty? This lecture series invites and sparks exploration of the profound challenges and opportunities posed by uncertainty – not as an anomaly, but as a fundamental aspect of human existence.
Bringing together insights from highly diverse fields – ranging from quantum physics and economics to cognitive sciences, aesthetics, and cultural studies – this series examines the multifaceted nature of uncertainty. By leveraging this interdisciplinary richness, we explore how uncertainty influences knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors in an ever-changing world. Viewing uncertainty as a spectrum of possibilities rather than merely a threat, we aim to inspire adaptive strategies for decision-making, resilience, and the pursuit of knowledge. Join us on an exciting journey to rethink the status quo and consider dynamic approaches that align with life’s inherent complexity. Together, we will discover how the uncertain, far from being something to endure or avoid, can drive innovation and deeper understanding.
Diese Vorlesungsreihe wird in englischer Sprache durchgeführt.
Programm-Flyer (Englisch)
Programm
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7.5.2025, 16:30: Knowledge, Ethics, and Mental Health
Part 1: Helga Nowotny (Former President European Research Council / ETH, Zurich / Complexity Science Hub, Vienna), Don Ross (University College Cork, University of Cape Town, Georgia State University), Gerd Kortemeyer (Member of Rectorate and ETH AI Center, ETH, Zurich) Moderation: Sebastian Bonhoeffer (ETH, Zurich) Part 2: Chang Chia-ju (Brooklyn College, CUNY, New York), John Gallacher (Oxford University), Marcello Ienca (Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health)
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14.5.2025, 16:30: Limits and Applicabilty of Models
Part 1: Joachim M. Buhmann (ETH, Zurich), Mathias Frisch (Leibniz University Hannover), Edoardo Peruzzi (Leibniz University Hannover), Tarja Knuuttila (University of Vienna). Part 2: Gerd Gigerenzer (Max-Planck-Institute for Human Development, Berlin), Tom Griffiths (Princeton University, online) Moderation: Christian Ruff (University of Zurich); Ort: Rämistrasse 71, 8006 Zürich; Raum: KOH-B-10
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21.5.2025, 16:30: Managing Uncertainty for Society
Part 1: Marco Steenbergen (University of Zurich), Katharina Michaelowa (University of Zurich), Didier Sornette (ETH, Zurich), Patrik Aspers (University St. Gallen) Moderation: Manos Tsakiris (Royal Holloway, University of London) Part 2: Saadi Lahlou (Paris Institute for Advanced Studies, London School of Economics), Nicholas A. Christakis (Yale University), Peter Turchin (Complexity Science Hub, Vienna, online) Moderation: Julia Eckert (University of Bern) & Dirk Helbing (ETH, Zurich);