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CfP special issue of Axiomathes on Mathematical neutrality, Deadline: 1 Dec 2022

Special Issue of Axiomathes
Mathematical neutrality in science, technology and society (deadline: December 1, 2022)

Guest Editors: José Antonio Pérez-Escobar (École Normale Supérieure 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 include 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 ethical/epistemic
consequences
- Ethical concerns about mathematics education

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 1, 2022.

Papers should be submitted via Axiomathes' 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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