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CfP topical collection of 'Global Philosophy' on mathematical neutrality in science, technology, & society, Deadline: 15 Dec 2023

Topical Collection of Global Philosophy

Mathematical neutrality in science, technology and society (new deadline: D
ecember 15, 2023)

All information can be also found here: https://link.springer.com/collectio
ns/agbbgbbdej

Guest Editors: Jos Antonio Prez-Escobar (cole Normale Suprieure
 Paris; 

jose.antonio.perez.escobar@ens.psl.eu) and Deniz Sarikaya (Vrije 

Universiteit Brussel; deniz.sarikaya@vub.be)

The interplay between scientific knowledge and society is a central theme 

in the philosophy of science. Engineering and science crucially rely on 

mathematical tools, and mathematics might influence society via the 

sciences or even directly.

  Mathematics is usually regarded as a discipline which admits no grey
  areas in most situations: answers are either correct or incorrect; there
  is a universal, objective, correct answer. On the other hand, ethical,
  moral and political questions are usually not "correct" or "incorrect",
  they are complicated and full of grey areas. This makes it extremely
  tempting to see the sciences and mathematics as a good way to settle
  disputes concerning issues like justice or equity. If the
  ethical/moral/political question can be reduced to a mathematical
  question, may the grey areas disappear? Can we make use of modern
  technologies like AI, Big Data and Machine learning to this end? How can
  mathematics promote consensus in controversial topics?

  Similarly, it is usually considered that mathematics is the universal
  language of the world, one that describes it "as it is". According to
  this view, mathematics is neutral in the production of scientific
  knowledge: the scientist discovers the mathematical rules of nature (like
  laws and mathematical models) and applies mathematical methods to which
  nature owes allegiance (like statistics and algorithms).

  Recent scholarship warns about the increasing use of mathematical
  techniques in order to prescribe policies and produce knowledge under a
  veil of neutrality, and argues that we should carefully evaluate the
  consequences of these techniques in science and society.

  This Topical Collection aims at contributing to this literature. Topics i
nclude but are not limited to:
- The moral responsibility of pure and applied mathematicians
- Value-ladenness of mathematics
- Algorithmic governance
- The mathematization of science: how (not) to use mathematics, and ethical
/epistemic consequences
- Statistics in science and society: how (not) to use statistics, and ethic
al/epistemic consequences
- Ethical concerns about mathematics education

This project is supported within the FWO-project "The Epistemology of Big D
ata: Mathematics and the Critical Research Agenda on Data Practices" (FWOAL
950).

For further information, or if you are unsure whether your paper idea fits 

the theme, please contact ideally both of us: 

jose.antonio.perez.escobar@ens.psl.eu; deniz.sarikaya@vub.be. The deadline 

for submissions is December 15, 2023.

Papers should be submitted via Global Philosophies editorial manager at: 

https://www.editorialmanager.com/axio/default1.aspx. When the system asks 

you to "Choose Article Type", please scroll down in the pull-down menu to 

choose this topical collection. (Tag S.I. Mathematical neutrality in 

science, technology and society)

When preparing your paper, please read the journal's 'Instructions for 

authors' at: https://www.springer.com/journal/10516/submission-guidelines
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