Dealing with Time and Chance
Dates: 22nd−23rd June 2026
Location: Neil Lecture Theatre, Trinity Long Room Hub, Trinity College Dublin and Newman Center (UCD), Museum of Literature Ireland (both in central Dublin)
Confirmed speakers: David Wallace, Sean Carroll, Max Heitmann, Wayne Myrvold, Nina Emery, Emily Adlam, Tim Maudlin and Alison Fernandes.
Lead Discussants: David Albert, Jill North, Ted Sider, with opening remarks by Barry Loewer.
‘Dealing with Time and Chance’ addresses the unmet challenges raised by David Albert’s Time and Chance (2000), concerning the physics and philosophy of the direction of time, the metaphysics of chance and the foundations of statistical mechanics. A striking phenomenon is that many processes in nature and our experience are directed differently towards the past than towards the future. We remember the past, but not the future. Causes are in the past, effects in the future. The ‘entropy’ of the universe increases over time. Time seems to have a direction. yet the laws of nature are, by and large, temporally symmetric, taking the same form in both directions in time. Can the range of temporal asymmetries we see be explained using the posits of physics? How are these posits to be understood? Could a ‘low-entropy’ constraint on the universe be a law? Can there be probabilities if the laws of the universe turn out to be deterministic?
Organisers: Alison Fernandes (Trinity College Dublin), Barry Loewer (Rutgers University), Ye-Eun Jeong (Columbia University), Daniel Deasy (University College Dublin), under the auspices of the Irish Society for the Philosophy of Time.
Kindly Supported by:
MAPS (Metro Area Philosophy of Science) and Rutgers University
Arts and Social Sciences Benefactions Fund, Trinity College Dublin
Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Events Fund, Trinity College Dublin
Department of Philosophy, Trinity College Dublin
School of Philosophy, University College Dublin
Location: Neil Lecture Theatre, Trinity Long Room Hub, Trinity College Dublin and Newman Center (UCD), Museum of Literature Ireland (both in central Dublin)
Confirmed speakers: David Wallace, Sean Carroll, Max Heitmann, Wayne Myrvold, Nina Emery, Emily Adlam, Tim Maudlin and Alison Fernandes.
Lead Discussants: David Albert, Jill North, Ted Sider, with opening remarks by Barry Loewer.
‘Dealing with Time and Chance’ addresses the unmet challenges raised by David Albert’s Time and Chance (2000), concerning the physics and philosophy of the direction of time, the metaphysics of chance and the foundations of statistical mechanics. A striking phenomenon is that many processes in nature and our experience are directed differently towards the past than towards the future. We remember the past, but not the future. Causes are in the past, effects in the future. The ‘entropy’ of the universe increases over time. Time seems to have a direction. yet the laws of nature are, by and large, temporally symmetric, taking the same form in both directions in time. Can the range of temporal asymmetries we see be explained using the posits of physics? How are these posits to be understood? Could a ‘low-entropy’ constraint on the universe be a law? Can there be probabilities if the laws of the universe turn out to be deterministic?
Organisers: Alison Fernandes (Trinity College Dublin), Barry Loewer (Rutgers University), Ye-Eun Jeong (Columbia University), Daniel Deasy (University College Dublin), under the auspices of the Irish Society for the Philosophy of Time.
Kindly Supported by:
MAPS (Metro Area Philosophy of Science) and Rutgers University
Arts and Social Sciences Benefactions Fund, Trinity College Dublin
Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Events Fund, Trinity College Dublin
Department of Philosophy, Trinity College Dublin
School of Philosophy, University College Dublin
Registration
For registration, please email Ye-Eun Jeong (Columbia) at [email protected] . While there is no registration fee, registration is reqiured as places are limited.
Schedule
Travel and Accommodation
Dublin Airport is the nearest airport, with connections throughout Europe and intercontinental.
There are several airport buses direct from the airport to the city centre, approximately 8 euros one way. Two straightforward options are Dublin Express and Aircoach. There is no need to book your ticket in advance, but you can, and doing so may get you on an earlier bus (transfers to a later time are typically no problem). There are pickups from Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. On Dublin Express, the stop you need is Dublin City South, Georges Quay, or just ask the bus driver to let you know where to get off for Trinity College Dublin.
Accomodation: One more affordable option in the city centre is Trinity City College Summer Accommodation, starting at around 90 euros per night. https://www.tcd.ie/summeraccommodation/city-centre/trinity-campus/
There are several airport buses direct from the airport to the city centre, approximately 8 euros one way. Two straightforward options are Dublin Express and Aircoach. There is no need to book your ticket in advance, but you can, and doing so may get you on an earlier bus (transfers to a later time are typically no problem). There are pickups from Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. On Dublin Express, the stop you need is Dublin City South, Georges Quay, or just ask the bus driver to let you know where to get off for Trinity College Dublin.
Accomodation: One more affordable option in the city centre is Trinity City College Summer Accommodation, starting at around 90 euros per night. https://www.tcd.ie/summeraccommodation/city-centre/trinity-campus/
Things to Do in and around Dublin
Bloomsday Festival: 11-16 June
Dalkey Book Festival: 18-21 June
Glendalough (monastic site with hikes)
Howth (peninsual with seafood and hikes)
History in Dublin:
Kilmainha Gaol
GPO Museum (visit to learn why the main post office is also a museum)
Chester Beatty Library (world class manuscript collection)
Pubs (there are too many)
Bowes, Stagshead, Palace, Grogans, Kehoes,...
Some of the ones that have regular music sessions:
The Cobblestone (go early for a good spot)
McNeill's
The Celt
I would recommend the whiskey distilleries over Guiness Brewery experience.
Especially: The Whiksey Museum
Design stores (tasteful souvenir shopping)
Irish Design Shop (and other stores on Drury St)
Design Lane (and other stores in West Temple Bar)
Dalkey Book Festival: 18-21 June
Glendalough (monastic site with hikes)
Howth (peninsual with seafood and hikes)
History in Dublin:
Kilmainha Gaol
GPO Museum (visit to learn why the main post office is also a museum)
Chester Beatty Library (world class manuscript collection)
Pubs (there are too many)
Bowes, Stagshead, Palace, Grogans, Kehoes,...
Some of the ones that have regular music sessions:
The Cobblestone (go early for a good spot)
McNeill's
The Celt
I would recommend the whiskey distilleries over Guiness Brewery experience.
Especially: The Whiksey Museum
Design stores (tasteful souvenir shopping)
Irish Design Shop (and other stores on Drury St)
Design Lane (and other stores in West Temple Bar)
