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:

Philosophical or sociological analyses of mathematical practices;
Comparative perspectives on epistemology, methodology, or the social organization of mathematics;
Interactions between mathematical reasoning, communication, and community structures
Methodological reflections on interview studies and qualitative research in the philosophy or sociology of science and mathematics.
Social philosophy of mathematics
Reflections on the interactions between the philosophy and sociology of mathematics

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Paola Cantù (CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Aix-en-Provence, France)
Karen François (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium)
Christian Greiffenhagen (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China)
Mikkel Willum Johansen (University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark)
Claude Rosental (CNRS, EHESS, Paris, France)
Eric Vandendriessche (CREDO, CNRS & Aix-Marseille University, France)

SCHEDULE

Remarks: Each invited speaker will have 60 minutes for their presentation, consisting of 40 minutes for the talk followed by 20 minutes of Q&A. Contributing speakers will have 45 minutes, with 30 minutes for the talk and 15 minutes of Q&A.

February 11th

Chair: Yacin Hamami

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

Chair: Sander Pouliart

10:45-11:30 Contributing speaker: Matt Hare (Ghent University and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium): “Where is the ‘Speaking Subject’ of Mathematical Work? On Jean-Toussaint Desanti’s Analysis of the French Analysts” (philosophy)

11:45-12:30 Contributing speaker: Jan Marsalek (Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic): “Sociology of Mathematics: From the Center to the Periphery” (sociology)

12:45-13:30 Contributing speaker: Rami Jreige (University of Bristol, UK): “Why is Physics unrigorous (according to mathematicians)?” (philosophy)

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 Contributing speaker: Claire Wladis (City University of New York, USA): “Problematizing Norms about “Good” Mathematics Students in Tertiary Education: Othering and Self-Othering of “Non-Traditional” Mathematics Majors” (sociology)

16:45-17:30 Contributing speaker: Kenneth Manders (University of Pittsburgh, USA): “Riemann-Hecke vs Tate-Weil: The impact of Local-Global in Number Theory” (philosophy)

February 12th

Chair: Yacin Hamami

9:00-10:00 Mikkel Willum Johansen (University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark): "Talking to mathematicians" (philosophy)

10:15-11:00 Contributing speaker: Olha Sobetska (CLEA, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium): “Formalism and Bias in Quantified Social Research” (sociology)

11:15-12:15 Christian Greiffenhagen (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China): “Judging importance before checking correctness: quick opinions in mathematical peer review” (sociology)

12:30-13:30 Group discussion: “What can sociologists and philosophers of mathematics contribute to the other discipline?”

Lunch break and free afternoon

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 (CREDO, CNRS & Aix-Marseille University, France): Co-construction of mathematical knowledge: Ethnographical research and collaborative experiment"

Chair: Sander Pouliart

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

Lev Lamberov (Ural Federal University, Russia) and Arsen Volskii (HSE University, Russia): “The Philosophy of the Working Mathematician: Survey Results” (online)
Alix Gaul (Humboldt University Berlin, Germany): “Objectivity as governance in mathematical practice”
Tomas Veloz (CLEA, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium): “Mathematical Practices and Epistemological Pluralism” (online)

Lunch break

Chair: Deborah Kant

13:30-14:15 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)

14:30-16:00 Group discussion

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]