Workshop on the Social Dimensions of Mathematics
With this workshop, the organizers intended to explore some of the philosophical consequences of seeing mathematics primarily as a human, cultural phenomenon. The participants originally came from a variety of disciplines, including philosophy, mathematics, sociology, educational and cultural studies.
Invited Speakers
- Paul Ernest (Exeter, UK)
- Johannes Lenhard (Bielefeld, DE)
- David Corfield (Oxford, UK)
Programme
9.00-9.30 WELCOME
9.30-10.00 INTRODUCTORY SPEECH (Jean Paul Van Bendegem)
10.00-10.55 Paul Ernest (Exeter, UK) The characteristics of Social Constructivism as a philosophy of mathematics
10.55-11.25 COFFEE BREAK
11.25-12.05 Karen François (Brussels) Mathematics in secondary education
12.05-12.45 Helen De Cruz (Brussels) Why humans can count large collections of objects accurately
12.45-14.15 LUNCH
14.15-15.10 Johannes Lenhard (Bielefeld, DE) Scepticism and mathematization
15.10-16.05 David Corfield (Oxford, UK) The importance of mathematics for philosophy
16.05-16.35 COFFEE BREAK
16.35-17.15 Hans Comijn and Bart Van Kerkhove (Brussels) The importance of being externalist about mathematics
17.15-18.10 Jean Paul Van Bendegem (Brussels) The role of what-if stories to understand how mathematics works
18.10 END