How does a qualitative interview study inform the philosophy of set theory
Speaker:
Deborah Kant (University of Constance)
Philosophers of mathematics are more and more interested in mathematical pratices. It is, however, not completely understood how empirical investigations can inform philosophy. We systematise the interactions between the disciplines, and argue that social phenomena are properly investigated by empirical methods and that philosophy informs the theory and research questions of empirical investigations. We review three examples from the philosophy of mathematics and mathematical practices on their methodology, present the author’s interview study with professional set theorists, and end with an open question: How do the social phenomena of the mathematical community relate to our philosophy of mathematics?