Organisers: Rami Jreige, Richard Pettigrew, Karim Thebault
The boundary between mathematics and physics has often been a source of tension. This tension frequently revolves around a central notion: mathematical rigour.
Although the concept has been discussed in history, philosophy, and mathematics itself, there has been relatively little discussion of its relationship to physics. Physics is often considered unrigorous; however, given that there is no single agreed-upon notion of rigour even within mathematics, it becomes unclear why physics is regarded as unrigorous, and whether it should be.
This interdisciplinary workshop will bring together researchers from various disciplines to discuss both descriptive and normative notions of rigour in physics, as well as the influence of this topic on the concept of rigour in mathematics. The central, non-exhaustive questions of the workshop will include the following:
– Is there a possibly implicit notion of rigour in physics?
– Should there be rigour in physics? If so, to what extent?
– Is there a difference in rigour between theoretical physics and mathematical physics?
– Can degrees of rigour be accepted when comparing and contrasting mathematical physics with mathematical practice?
15 – 17 June 2026, G2 Cotham House, University of Bristol, 29 Cotham Hill, Bristol BS6 6JL
Book of Abstracts
Keynote Speakers:
– James Fraser (Aix-Marseille University)
– Miklós Rédei (LSE)
– Kasia Rejzner (University of York)
– Tony Short (University of Bristol)
– Sylvia Wenmackers (KU Leuven)
Programme:
Monday 15 June:
– 12:30 – 13:00 – Registration
– 13:00 – 14:00 – Sylvia Wenmackers (KU Leuven)
Physical origins of rigour in mathematics and computation
– 14:15 – 15:15 – F. A. Muller (Utrecht University)
Trinitas Sancta Entium Mathematicorum in Physica
– 15:30 – 16:30 – Tony Short (University of Bristol)
Rigour in Physics: The good, the bad, and the ugly
Tuesday 16 June:
– 10:00 – 11:00 – Ana Elisa Ulloa (Università della Svizzera Italiana)
Two Directions of Rigour: Mathematical and Conceptual Standards in Physical Modeling
– 11:15 – 12:15 – Joanna Luc (Jagiellonian University)
How difficult it is to fully formalise a physical theory?
– 12:15 – 13:30 – Lunch
– 13:30 – 14:30 – Miklós Rédei (LSE)
On axiomatization and rigour in physics
– 14:45 – 15:45 – James Fraser (Aix-Marseille University)
Enacting Rigour
– 16:00 – 17:00 – Kasia Rejzner (University of York)
Semilocal quantum physics: results and perspectives
– 19:30 – Dinner
Wednesday 17 June:
– 10:30 – 11:30 – Michael Stoeltzner (University South Carolina)
The temptation of theoretical mathematics: The principle of least action and its kin
– 11:45 – 12:45 – John Dougherty (MCMP)
Restriction and Rigor
The event is generously supported by the British Academy [IF25\100347]
Contact: rami.jreige@bristol.ac.uk
Philosophy of Physics Bristol 