Mathematical Arguments and Distributed Knowledge

Patrick Allo; Jean Van Bendegem; Bart Van Kerkhove

Mathematical Arguments and Distributed Knowledge

Patrick Allo, Jean Van Bendegem, Bart Van Kerkhove

Philosophy - Moral Sciences

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Research › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Because the conclusion of a correct proof follows by necessity from its premises, and is thus independent of the mathematician's beliefs about that conclusion, understanding how different pieces of mathematical knowledge can be distributed within a larger community is rarely considered an issue in the epistemology of mathematical proofs. In the present chapter, we set out to question the received view expressed by the previous sentence. To that end, we study a prime example of collaborative mathematics, namely the Polymath Project, and propose a simple formal model based on epistemic logics to bring out some of the core features of this case-study.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The Argument of Mathematics
Editors	A. Aberdein, I. Dove
Place of Publication	Dordrecht
Publisher	Springer
Pages	339-360
Number of pages	22
ISBN (Print)	978-94-007-6533-7
Publication status	Published - 2013

Publication series

Name	Logic, Epistemology, and the Unity of Science
Publisher	Springer
Volume	30
ISSN (Print)	2214-9775

Bibliographical note

Aberdein, A. & I. Dove

Keywords

mathematical practice
epistemic logic
scientific communities
group knowledge

Access to Document

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6534-4_17

SRP22: Strategic Research Programme: Cultures of Mathematics: Logic, Philosophy and History of Mathematical Practices.
Van Kerkhove, B., François, K., Ducheyne, S., Van Bendegem, J. P., Van Bendegem, J. P. & Van Kerkhove, B.
1/10/13 → 30/09/20
Project: Fundamental

Mathematical Arguments and Distributed Knowledge
Patrick Allo (Speaker)
16 Sept 2013 → 18 Sept 2013
Activity: Talk or presentation › Talk or presentation at a conference

Cite this

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title = "Mathematical Arguments and Distributed Knowledge",

abstract = "Because the conclusion of a correct proof follows by necessity from its premises, and is thus independent of the mathematician's beliefs about that conclusion, understanding how different pieces of mathematical knowledge can be distributed within a larger community is rarely considered an issue in the epistemology of mathematical proofs. In the present chapter, we set out to question the received view expressed by the previous sentence. To that end, we study a prime example of collaborative mathematics, namely the Polymath Project, and propose a simple formal model based on epistemic logics to bring out some of the core features of this case-study.",

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TY - CHAP

T1 - Mathematical Arguments and Distributed Knowledge

AU - Allo, Patrick

AU - Van Bendegem, Jean

AU - Van Kerkhove, Bart

N1 - Aberdein, A. & I. Dove

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - Because the conclusion of a correct proof follows by necessity from its premises, and is thus independent of the mathematician's beliefs about that conclusion, understanding how different pieces of mathematical knowledge can be distributed within a larger community is rarely considered an issue in the epistemology of mathematical proofs. In the present chapter, we set out to question the received view expressed by the previous sentence. To that end, we study a prime example of collaborative mathematics, namely the Polymath Project, and propose a simple formal model based on epistemic logics to bring out some of the core features of this case-study.

AB - Because the conclusion of a correct proof follows by necessity from its premises, and is thus independent of the mathematician's beliefs about that conclusion, understanding how different pieces of mathematical knowledge can be distributed within a larger community is rarely considered an issue in the epistemology of mathematical proofs. In the present chapter, we set out to question the received view expressed by the previous sentence. To that end, we study a prime example of collaborative mathematics, namely the Polymath Project, and propose a simple formal model based on epistemic logics to bring out some of the core features of this case-study.

KW - mathematical practice

KW - epistemic logic

KW - scientific communities

KW - group knowledge

M3 - Chapter

SN - 978-94-007-6533-7

T3 - Logic, Epistemology, and the Unity of Science

SP - 339

EP - 360

BT - The Argument of Mathematics

A2 - Aberdein, A.

A2 - Dove, I.

PB - Springer

CY - Dordrecht

ER -

Mathematical Arguments and Distributed Knowledge

Abstract

Publication series

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Projects

SRP22: Strategic Research Programme: Cultures of Mathematics: Logic, Philosophy and History of Mathematical Practices.

Activities

Mathematical Arguments and Distributed Knowledge

Cite this