Inverting hierarchies: The sociology of mathematical practice

Michael J. Barany; Milena I. Kremakova

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-19071-2_87-1

Inverting hierarchies: The sociology of mathematical practice

Michael J. Barany, Milena I. Kremakova^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Social and Political Science

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

Abstract / Description of output

Sociology originated in the mid-nineteenth century from a new confidence in the power of science to explain the world on a mathematical foundation. Both mathematics and sociology transformed over the ensuing century, inverting the hierarchical relationship from sociology as a mathematics-based science of complex human configurations to mathematics as a complex science based on social institutions. That is, where sociology began as the hard case for mathematics, it became possible to see mathematics as the hard case for sociology. In this light, we examine a number of motivations and provocations for the sociology of mathematics, from language and social cognition to Marxist and materialist skepticism of ideology, and sample the evidence and arguments brought to bear on the sociology of mathematics at a range of scales.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Handbook of the History and Philosophy of Mathematical Practice
Editors	Bharath Sriraman
Publisher	Springer
Pages	1-22
Number of pages	22
ISBN (Electronic)	9783030190712
ISBN (Print)	9783030190712
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19071-2_87-1
Publication status	Published - 15 Nov 2023

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

mathematics
social studies of mathematics
sociology
sociology of mathematical practice
sociology of mathematics
sociology of scientific knowledge (SSK)

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-030-19071-2_87-1

1 Chapter (peer-reviewed)

Practice makes perfectoid: Pasts, futures, and the historiography of contemporary mathematics
Barany, M. J., 28 Jul 2023, (E-pub ahead of print) Handbook of the History and Philosophy of Mathematical Practice. Sriraman, B. (ed.). Springer, p. 1-18 18 p.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

Cite this

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title = "Inverting hierarchies: The sociology of mathematical practice",

abstract = "Sociology originated in the mid-nineteenth century from a new confidence in the power of science to explain the world on a mathematical foundation. Both mathematics and sociology transformed over the ensuing century, inverting the hierarchical relationship from sociology as a mathematics-based science of complex human configurations to mathematics as a complex science based on social institutions. That is, where sociology began as the hard case for mathematics, it became possible to see mathematics as the hard case for sociology. In this light, we examine a number of motivations and provocations for the sociology of mathematics, from language and social cognition to Marxist and materialist skepticism of ideology, and sample the evidence and arguments brought to bear on the sociology of mathematics at a range of scales.",

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N2 - Sociology originated in the mid-nineteenth century from a new confidence in the power of science to explain the world on a mathematical foundation. Both mathematics and sociology transformed over the ensuing century, inverting the hierarchical relationship from sociology as a mathematics-based science of complex human configurations to mathematics as a complex science based on social institutions. That is, where sociology began as the hard case for mathematics, it became possible to see mathematics as the hard case for sociology. In this light, we examine a number of motivations and provocations for the sociology of mathematics, from language and social cognition to Marxist and materialist skepticism of ideology, and sample the evidence and arguments brought to bear on the sociology of mathematics at a range of scales.

AB - Sociology originated in the mid-nineteenth century from a new confidence in the power of science to explain the world on a mathematical foundation. Both mathematics and sociology transformed over the ensuing century, inverting the hierarchical relationship from sociology as a mathematics-based science of complex human configurations to mathematics as a complex science based on social institutions. That is, where sociology began as the hard case for mathematics, it became possible to see mathematics as the hard case for sociology. In this light, we examine a number of motivations and provocations for the sociology of mathematics, from language and social cognition to Marxist and materialist skepticism of ideology, and sample the evidence and arguments brought to bear on the sociology of mathematics at a range of scales.

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KW - social studies of mathematics

KW - sociology

KW - sociology of mathematical practice

KW - sociology of mathematics

KW - sociology of scientific knowledge (SSK)

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BT - Handbook of the History and Philosophy of Mathematical Practice

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ER -

Inverting hierarchies: The sociology of mathematical practice

Abstract / Description of output

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Research output

Practice makes perfectoid: Pasts, futures, and the historiography of contemporary mathematics

Cite this