CfP special issue of Synthese on "Enabling Mathematical Cultures"

C A L L F O R P A P E R S for a special issue of the journal Synthese on ENABLING MATHEMATICAL CULTURES

Guest editors: Benedikt Loewe, Ursula Martin, Alison Pease.

Submission deadline: 1 June 2018

Traditionally, philosophy of mathematics focused on the formal component of mathematics and ignores the human and social components of the mathematical discipline. In the last decades, some philosophers of mathematics have challenged this traditional view and claimed that many of the features of the discipline of mathematics depend at least partially on interpersonal context and cultural embedding.

Philosophers in this tradition met in a series of workshops and conferences, starting with the PhiMSAMP workshops (Philosophy of Mathematics: Sociological Approaches and Mathematical Practice: Bonn 2005, Berlin 2006, Brussels & Utrecht 2007, Vienna & Brussels 2008, Hatfield 2009, Utrecht 2010), continuing with the Mathematical Cultures workshops (London 2012, 2013, & 2014) and the Cultures of Mathematics conferences (Bielefeld 2010, Greifswald 2011, Guangzhou 2012, Delhi 2015). The workshop "Enabling Mathematical Cultures" held in Oxford in December 2017 stood in this tradition, bringing together the multiple disciplinary communities interested in cultural influences on mathematical practice (philosophers, sociologists, mathematics educators, historians of science) and the EPSRC funded project "The Social Machine of Mathematics" that focused on social interaction between mathematicians, in particular in the context of the use of social, technological and conceptual tools and the sharing and construction of group knowledge in mathematics (e.g., the Polymath projects, MathOverflow and the arXiv).

The special issue entitled "Enabling Mathematical Cultures" aims to cover this broadly interdisciplinary scope, studying the social and cultural features of mathematical research practice and its philosophical ramifications.

We encourage authors to submit papers that discuss cultural aspects of mathematical practices, using methods from philosophy, psychology, education, sociology, history, or other disciplines. Papers that deal with social, technological and conceptual tools for sharing and construction of group knowledge in mathematics are particularly welcome, but this is not a necessary requirement for acceptance of a paper. Engagement with the relevant philosophical literature as well as discussion of the philosophical implications are strongly encouraged.

If you would like to discuss whether your contribution fits within the scope and intention of this special issue, do contact the guest editors at bloewe (at) science (dot) uva (dot) nl to discuss it. The guest editors would also appreciate a brief notification of the intention to submit by e-mail so that they have an overview of which submissions to expect.

All submitted papers will be peer-reviewed according to the high standards of the journal Synthese: that a paper was accepted or invited for presentation at the workshop in Oxford is not a guarantee that the paper will be accepted for publication in the special issue.

Please submit your papers via the editorial manager at

https://www.editorialmanager.com/synt/

by the deadline for 1 June 2018. When the system asks you to "Choose Article Type", scroll down in the pulldown menu to "S.I. Enabling Mathematical Cultures". Please also mention "Enabling Mathematical Cultures" in the cover letter.

More information about the workshop "Enabling Mathematical Cultures" and the project "The Social Machine of Mathematics" that could be useful for determining whether your paper fits with the theme of the special issue can be found on the following webpages:

https://enablingmaths.wordpress.com/

http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/people/ursula.martin/