CFP: Theology in Mathematics?

CALL FOR PAPERS

Conference “Theology in Mathematics?”

8-10 June, 2014, Cracow, Poland

The conference will be organized by The Copernicus Center for Interdisciplinary Studies (Cracow), with support of the Institute of Philosophy of the University of Warsaw. The conference begins on Sunday afternoon, June 8, 2014, and ends either on June 9 in the evening, or on June 10 at lunch time if the number of participants is too large to fit in June 8-9. 

The relationship between mathematics and religious thinking is complex: there exist connections and mutual influences. Most often mathematics is treated as a source of examples or patterns that can help theology. The idea of this conference is to focus primarily on the other direction: to review and stimulate research on theological aspects detectable in the background of mathematics. ‘Theological’ is meant in a broad sense, from rather direct links to existing religious denominations to general metaphysical views alluding to or touching upon the transcendent.

Understood in this way, theological inspirations, motivations, points of reference seem to have been present in the genesis of certain mathematical concepts. According to Abraham Seidenberg geometry and counting have origins in religious rituals. Among more recent well-known examples are: Cantor’s theory of infinite sets developed, or at least justified, by referring to scholastic theology, Brouwer’s intuitionism formed with reference to mystical perceptions, topological developments in Russia in the early 20th century connected to ‘name worshipping,’ and, to some extent, Gödel’s work aiming at refutation of Positivism and affirming Leibniz’s monadology. Both the familiar and less known examples can be presented at the conference and analyses can be offered of the ways religious inspirations find their ways to mathematics. It is also possible to present approaches denying any essential role of theological ideas in the process of introduction and justification of mathematical concepts.

The organizing committee includes Professor Stanisław Krajewski (Institute of Philosophy of the University of Warsaw) – chair, Fr. Professor Michał Heller (The Copernicus Center for Interdisciplinary Studies), Fr. Professor Janusz Mączka (The Copernicus Center for Interdisciplinary Studies), Julia Jankowska (Institute of Philosophy of the University of Warsaw) – secretary of the committee.

Abstracts of contributed papers – between 500 and 1000 words – as well as abstracts of papers proposed to be shared at a poster session  should be e-mailed by January 15, 2014, to both [email protected] and [email protected]. By February 28, 2014, acceptance letters will be sent.

The organizers can assist a number of participants in finding suitable accommodation. Travel arrangements will be left to the participants.