CfP: Workshop on "Mathematical Knowledge: Philosophical and Sociological Perspectives" - Brussels - 11–13 February 2026
Workshop on "Mathematical Knowledge: Philosophical and Sociological Perspectives"
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
11–13 February 2026
Brussels, Belgium
Cost: Free but registration for physical and online attendance is mandatory
== Description
We invite submissions for a 3-day workshop on “Mathematical Knowledge: Philosophical and Sociological Perspectives”, to be held at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium) from 11–13 February 2026. 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.
== Invited 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)
One additional keynote speaker to be confirmed.
== Workshop Structure and Themes
Days 1–2: Keynote lectures and four contributed talks.
Day 3: A methodological day dedicated to interview studies and qualitative research, with roundtable discussions and short empirical presentations.
We welcome 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.
== Submissions
Abstracts (max. 500 words) for longer presentations (4 slots) or brief empirical project presentations (2 slots) should be submitted before November 30. Applicants can submit abstracts for both a short and a long presentation. Please indicate whether your proposal is philosophical or sociological, and if you wish to present empirical work on Day 3.
Attendance is free and open to anyone interested, but registration is required. Both submissions and registrations can be done by filling out the registration form (https://docs.google.com/
== Important Dates
Submission deadline: 30 November 2025
Notification of acceptance: Before 15 December 2025
Workshop dates: 11–13 February 2026
== Organisers
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)