Aims and scope
The aim of this workshop is to bring together psychologists and philosophers who are studying the epistemological and ontological foundations of number.
Key topics include: What are numbers? How do we acquire knowledge about them? What is the role of language and other cultural factors in acquiring numerical concepts? What neural correlates underlie numerical competence? What are the implications of psychological foundations of number for the philosophy of mathematics?
We expect that bringing together philosophers and psychologists will foster a unique cross-fertilization for both fields.
As the workshop will have an in-depth, focused character, we have invited eminent scholars in psychology and philosophy whose work has deepened the understanding of the nature and knowledge of number.
Audience
Psychologists and philosophers working on number, and others with an interest in the psychological and philosophical foundations of number (e.g. mathematicians).
Programme
- 10.00-10.30: Joëlle Vlassis, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Liège "From the concept of negative numbers to the use of the minus sign: The model of 'negativity' or the negatives reviewed in the light of socio-cultural approaches" [pdf]
- 10.30-11.00: Tom Verguts, Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University "Neural Networks of Symbolic and Nonsymbolic Number" [pdf]
- 11.00-12.00: Pierre Pica, UMR 7023, CNRS Paris, "Number of Numbers and the Nature of the Language Faculty" [pdf]
- 12.00-14.00: Lunch
- 14.00-15.00: Brian Butterworth, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London "Do numerical concepts depend on possession of language?" [pdf]
- 15.00-15.30: Ann Dowker, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford "Linguistic influences on mathematical development" [pdf]
- 15.30-16.00: Coffee Break
- 16.00-16.30: Jean Paul Van Bendegem and Bart Van Kerkhove, Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science, Free University of Brussels, "Mathematical Practice as a Philosophy of Mathematics" [pdf]
- 16.30-17.00: Helen De Cruz, Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science, Free University of Brussels "Ontological intuitions influence the cultural viability of numerical concepts"[pdf]