Mathematical Knowledge: Philosophical and Sociological Perspectives

11–13 February 2026, Brussels (Belgium)

The event aims to bring together philosophers and sociologists of mathematical and scientific practices to explore the social dimensions of mathematics and to foster dialogue between these two research traditions. We expect contributions on topics such as:

1. Philosophical or sociological analyses of mathematical practices;

2. Comparative perspectives on epistemology, methodology, or the social organization of mathematics;

3. Interactions between mathematical reasoning, communication, and community structures

4. Methodological reflections on interview studies and qualitative research in the philosophy or sociology of science and mathematics.

5. Social philosophy of mathematics

6. Reflections on the interactions between the philosophy and sociology of mathematics

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

• Paola Cantù (CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Aix-en-Provence, France)

• Christian Greiffenhagen (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China)

• Mikkel Willum Johansen (University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark)

• Bart Van Kerkhove (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium)

• Claude Rosental (CNRS, EHESS, Paris, France)

SHEDULE

February 11th

Chair: Sander Pouliart

9:30-10:30 Paola Cantù (CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Aix-en-Provence, France): "Axiomatics as a social mathematical practice" (philosophy)

10:45-11:30 Contributed speaker: Kenneth Manders (philosophy)

11:45-12:30 Contributed speaker: Jan Marsalek (sociology)

Lunch break

Chair: Colin Rittberg

14:30-15:30 Claude Rosental (CNRS, EHESS, Paris, France): “How can we study the production of demonstrations?” (sociology)

15:45-16:30 Contributed speaker: Claire Wladis (sociology)

16:45-17:30 Contributed speaker: Matt Hare (philosophy)

February 12th

Chair: Deniz Sarikaya

9:30-10:30 Mikkel Willum Johansen (University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark): "Talking to mathematicians" (philosophy)

10:45-11:30 Contributed speaker: Matteo De Ceglie (philosophy)

11:45-12:30 Contributed speaker: Olha Sobetska (sociology)

Lunch break

Chair: Yacin Hamami

14:30-15:30 Christian Greiffenhagen (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China): “Correctness, Importance, and Trust in Mathematical Peer Review – and how one can use interviews to find out about them” (sociology)

15:45-16:30 Contributed speaker: Rami Jreige (philosophy)

16:45-17:45 Group discussion: “What can sociologists and philosophers of mathematics contribute to the other discipline?” 

February 13th Focus on qualitative studies about mathematical practices

Each speaker will begin with a brief presentation of their qualitative study. To encourage exchange, identify key challenges, and explore effective methodological strategies in this interdisciplinary context, all participants will engage in group discussions on selected topics. A written summary of the discussion outcomes will be prepared and shared with all participants after the conference, to further support ongoing exchange beyond the event.

Chair: Deborah Kant

9:30-10:30 Karen Francois (VUB Brussels, Belgium) & Eric Vandendriessche (Paris): 

11:00-12:30 Short contributed presentations (each 20+10min) on empirical studies conducted by

• Lev Lamberov (online)

• Alix Gaul

• Tomas Veloz

Lunch break

14:30-15:15 Brief presentations of empirical studies (10 min) conducted by

• Mikkel Willum Johansen (University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark)

• Christian Greiffenhagen (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China)

• Claude Rosental (CNRS, EHESS, Paris, France)

• Deborah Kant (VUB, Brussels, Belgium)

15:30-16:15 Group discussion on issues of the qualitative methodologies (data collection and anonymisation: recruiting participants, choosing between online and in-person interviews, transcription approaches, and the advantages and disadvantages of anonymisation, and on the data analysis: developing suitable categories, ensuring intercoder reliability, creating the coding guideline, and workload)

16:30-17:30 Group discussion on combining philosophical analysis with qualitative research (study design: connection to philosophy, feasibility, and sociological skills, and interpreting findings, reflecting on philosophical significance, concluding discussion), & participant feedback and farewell. 

Organization

Yacin Hamami (CNRS, Université de Lorraine), Deborah Kant (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Sander Pouliart (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Colin Rittberg (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Deniz Sarikaya (University of Lübeck), Bart Van Kerkhove (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Erik Weber (Ghent University)

For inquiries, please contact: [sander.ann.r.pouliart@vub.be]