Advances in Experimental Philosophy of Logic and Mathematics - by Andrew Aberdein & James R Beebe & Matthew Inglis & Justin Sytsma (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

This book explores the results of applying empirical methods to the philosophy of logic and mathematics. Much of the work that has earned experimental philosophy a prominent place in twenty-first century philosophy is concerned with ethics or epistemology. But, as this book shows, empirical methods are just as much at home in logic and the philosophy of mathematics.

Chapters demonstrate and discuss the applicability of a wide range of empirical methods including experiments, surveys, interviews, and data-mining. Distinct themes emerge that reflect recent developments in the field, such as issues concerning the logic of conditionals and the role played by visual elements in some mathematical proofs.

Featuring leading figures from experimental philosophy and the fields of philosophy of logic and mathematics, this collection reveals that empirical work in these disciplines has been quietly thriving for some time and stresses the importance of collaboration between philosophers and researchers in mathematics education and mathematical cognition.

Review Quotes

"The essays are uniformly thoughtful, careful, and interesting ... This collection demonstrates that new avenues of approach can point the way to new insights into philosophical concepts, they can help adjudicate between competing theories, and they can show how various subsets of the population make sense of ideas philosophers and mathematicians take for granted." --Philosophia

"Imre Lakatos' call for a renaissance of empiricism in the philosophy of mathematics has at last been answered. This volume shows that deep questions in the philosophy of mathematics and logic can be attacked through empirical studies and non-foundational reasoning. Drawing on philosophy, logic, cognitive science and mathematics education, perennial questions are answered, including the roles of aesthetics and visualisation in proofs, and logic in practical reasoning. This landmark collection will undoubtedly be an indispensable resource for future research in this important field." --Paul Ernest, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy of Mathematics Education, Exeter University, UK

"How are natural language terms actually used in technical contexts, and how do people interpret them? The answer is often surprising! This book extols the use of empirical studies to challenge implicit assumptions about the practice of philosophers and mathematicians, and the way that these groups talk about their practice." --John Mason, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics Education, The Open University, UK

About the Author

Andrew Aberdein is Professor of Philosophy at Florida Institute of Technology, USA.
Matthew Inglis is Professor of Mathematical Cognition in the Mathematics Education Centre at Loughborough University, UK.