Topics in Philosophy of Mathematical Practice
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2019-07-15 | - |
| 2019-08-12 | - |
Program Overview
Program Overview
The University of Copenhagen offers a summer school course titled "Topics in Philosophy of Mathematical Practice" (NNDK19000U). This highly interactive course provides students with the opportunity to gain knowledge about central topics in the philosophy of mathematical practice and develop basic skills in empirically informed philosophy of mathematical practice.
Course Description
The course is divided into two parts: a four-week online part and a two-week on-campus part. The online part includes reading research papers, online discussions, and collaboration on problem formulations for final products. The material focuses on four themes from contemporary philosophy of mathematical practice:
- The role of diagrams in mathematical practice
- Proofs as vehicles of communication in mathematical practice
- Experimental aspects of mathematical practice
- Formal aspects of mathematical practice Students will also familiarize themselves with basic theories of empirical data collection during the online part.
On-Campus Part
The on-campus part consists of:
- Lectures following up on the four themes in philosophy of mathematical practice
- Workshops on empirical data collection
- Practical work preparing an empirically informed product in the philosophy of mathematical practice Students will receive group supervision on their product during the on-campus part.
Learning Outcomes
After completing the course, students should be able to:
- Collect and analyze empirical material
- Account for central topics in the philosophy of mathematical practice
- Reflect on the strengths and limitations of empirical methods
- Discuss and reflect on central topics in philosophy of mathematical practice
- Produce empirically informed written products in the area of philosophy of mathematics
Literature
Students will be given a collection of research papers and excerpts from textbooks.
Recommended Academic Qualifications
It is recommended that students have at least one of the following qualifications:
- BSc in mathematics and knowledge about philosophy
- BA in philosophy and knowledge about mathematics
- Knowledge equivalent to one of the following books:
- Johansen and Sørensen (2014): Invitation til matematikkens videnskabsteori
- Mark Colyvan (2012): An Introduction to the Philosophy of Mathematics
Teaching and Learning Methods
The course includes lectures, online exercises, group work, group supervision, and practical workshops.
Workload
The workload is distributed as follows:
- Class Instruction: 30 hours
- E-Learning: 100 hours
- Exam: 26 hours
- Project work: 50 hours
- Total: 206 hours
Exam
The exam consists of a written assignment, including four small exercises posted during the online part and a written project produced during the on-campus part. All five parts of the assignment must be handed in by the specified deadline.
Course Information
- Language: English
- Course code: NNDK19000U
- Credit: 7.5 ECTS
- Level: Full Degree Master
- Duration: Summer
- Schedule: Online part (15 July – 9 August 2019), on-campus part (12 August – 23 August 2019), and finalizing written product (26 August – 30 August 2019)
- Course capacity: 30
- Continuing and further education: Available
- Study board: Study Board of Mathematics and Computer Science
- Contracting department: Department of Science Education
- Contracting faculty: Faculty of Science
- Course Coordinators: Mikkel Willum Johansen and Henrik Kragh Sørensen