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Host: Free University of Brussels (VUB)
Homepage: http://www.vub.ac.be/CLWF/PMP/
Email: clwf@vub.ac.be
Organizers: Jean Paul Van Bendegem (Chair)
Description:
The twentieth-century research in philosophy of mathematics was mainly
focused on foundational studies. Either specific mathematical theories were
proposed as ultimate foundations (set theory, category theory, ...), or
mathematics was imbedded in specific philosophical theories (naturalism,
realism, neo-platonism, structuralism, ...). All these approaches were focused
on the outcomes or "products" of mathematical practice.
Since the seminal work of Imre Lakatos, Proofs and Refutations, however, it became clear that to fully understand mathematics, must also involve an understanding of the mathematical activity itself, as a process.
What is it that mathematicians do when they do mathematics? This conference is aimed at bringing together all kinds of contributions relevant to this question. They include both discussions about the large-scale structure of mathematics (Are there revolutions in mathematics? Is a Popperian, a Lakatosian or some other framework best suited? How does the mathematical community fit into society?), and reflections on the micro-practice of mathematics (What exactly turns a piece of text into a proof? What role do analogies and metaphors play in mathematical practice? What role does mathematical beauty play?).
It is the aim of the organizers to search for a balance between, on the one hand, theoretical considerations on these issues, and, on the other hand, case studies of specific mathematical problems.
Date received: October 07, 2001
© 2008 Atlas Conferences Inc.