About
I am a PhD student at HHU Düsseldorf, working in the philosophy of mathematics and the history and philosophy of science. In particular, my research focuses on the relationship between the epistemology of mathematics and mathematical practice. Also, I am interested in experimental philosophy and in the late Wittgenstein.
In my PhD project, I investigate whether mathematical knowledge is ultimately justified on the grounds of sensory experiences (a posteriori) or not (a priori). Although the received view makes a strong case for an a priori classification, in recent years, two challenges have emerged. Naturalism (Quine 1951; Maddy 1990) argues that mathematics is continuous with the natural sciences and, therefore, justified on sensory grounds. Practitionism (Lakatos 1976; Putnam 1979; Kitcher 1984) argues that mathematics, as practised, has many features that could not be part of an a priori science. In my project, I develop an argument against Practitionism by defending a modal reading of the a priori/a posteriori distinction.
Curriculum Vitae
Full Higher Education
2016 – 20
2012 – 16
Grants & Scholarship
Conferences
Scholarship & Travel Bursary
Teaching
Publications
2022
- “Familiy Resemblance and Context.” In Platonism. Contributions of the 43rd International Wittgenstein Symposium, edited by Herbert Hrachovec and Jakub Mácha. Kirchberg am Wechsel: ALWS. 64-66.Download
2021
- “Wittgensteins Begriff der Familienähnlichkeit. Interpretationen von 1960 bis heute.” In Wittgenstein und die Philosophiegeschichte, edited by Dennis Sölch and Bernard Ritter. Freiburg: Verlag Karl Alber. 376-429. (with Markus Schrenk)Download
Employment History
2020 – Present
2019 – Present
2016 – 20
2014 – 16
Talks
2025
- What Practices Cannot Tell Us. A Problem for Aposteriorism About Mathematical KnowledgeErlangen, 5th International Conference of the German Society for Philosophy of Science
- Wittgenstein, Open Texture and MathematicsOnline, Wittgenstein and the Formal Sciences IV
2024
- Theoretical Virtues in Mathematics. There’s More Than BeautyBelgrade, 34th Novembertagung on the History and Philosophy of Mathematics
- What Practices Cannot Tell Us. A Problem for Aposteriorism About Mathematical KnowledgeMünster, German Congress for Philosophy XXVI
- What’s the Problem With Computer-Assisted Proofs?Brussels, Masterclass in the Philosophy of Mathematical Practices 2024
- The Innocence of Mathematical Practices. A Problem for AposteriorismPavia, 7th International Meeting of the APMP
- Wittgenstein on Family Resemblance and Open TextureOnline, Colloquium of the Young Network for Wittgensteinian Philosophy
- “The Safety Dilemma Put to the Test” (with Isabelle Keßels and Daian Bica)Online, XPHI UK Work in Progress Workshop Series
2023
- What Practices Can(Not) Tell UsBrussels, Masterclass in the Philosophy of Mathematical Practices 2023
- Assessing Surveyability. Reframing the Debate on Computer-Assisted ProofsZürich, Formalize!(?) - 3
2022
- Family Resemblance and ContextKirchberg am Wechsel, 43rd International Wittgenstein Symposium 2022
- Familienähnlichkeit und LebensformAix-en-Provence, Le concept de «vie» dans l’histoire de la philosophie
2021
- Mathematical Knowledge as Social Knowledge?Online, 32nd Novembertagung on the History and Philosophy of Mathematics
- Social Dimensions of Mathematical Knowledge? Lessons From Mathematical PracticeLondon, PSGC 2021 “From Theory to Practice”
- The Epistemic Role of Social Values in MathematicsSalzburg, SOPhiA
2019
- Are Computer-Assisted-Proofs Really Complex?Strasbourg, 30th Novembertagung on the History and Philosophy of Mathematics
- Differences and Similarities in the Notion of Family ResemblanceSofia, 130 years Ludwig Wittgenstein: 1889-2019
- Computers and the King’s New Clothes. Remarks on Two Objections Against Computer Assisted Proofs in MathematicsPrague, 6th International Congress of Logic, Methodology and Philosophy of Science and Technology (CLMPST)
- Are Computer-Assisted-Proofs Really Complex? Complexity, Simplicity and Insight in MathematicsBonn, Simplicities & Complexities
- Konzeptionen von Sprache und Wahrheit bei Nietzsche und WittgensteinDüsseldorf, Wittgenstein und die Philosophiegeschichte
2018
- The Mathematician vs. the Computer. On the Surprising Dislike for Computer-Assisted Proofs in MathematicsSalzburg, SOPhiA
- Computer-Assisted Proofs and the Question of Complexity vs. Beauty in MathematicsBrussels, Masterclass in the Philosophy of Mathematical Practice
- Ästhetik der Mathematik?Bochum, Colloquium of the Chair for History and Philosophy of Science (Helmut Pulte)
- Is Mathematics Beautiful? A Non-reductive View on Aesthetic Judgements in Mathematics and ScienceBucharest, Graduate conference on History and Philosophy of Science
- Schöne Mathematik? Funktion und Bedeutung ästhetischer Werte in der mathematischen ForschungGießen, dia:logos
2017
- Aesthetic Values in Mathematical InquirySalzburg, SOPhiA
Organised Conferences
2024
- What Do We Talk About When We Talk About (Scientific) Practices?3rd Düsseldorf Graduate Workshop for Philosophy. HHU, co-organised with Daian Bica.Homepage
2023
- Problem Posing: Aesthetical and Other ConsiderationsVirtual Workshop, HHU & Københavns Universitet, co-organised with Deniz Sarikaya.Homepage
2022
- Philosophy of Mathematics Beyond the Armchair?!Summerschool on Experimental Methods. HHU, co-organised with Deborah Kant and Deniz Sarikaya.Homepage
- Logic and its Philosophy 2Virtual Mini-Workshop in Celebration of UNESCO World Logic Day. HHU, co-organised with Sara Ipakchi.Homepage
2021
- Logic and its PhilosophyVirtual Mini-Workshop in Celebration of UNESCO World Logic Day. HHU, co-organised with Sara Ipakchi.Homepage
2020
- Axiomatics: Ancient and Contemporary Perspectives31st Novembertagung on the History and Philosophy of Mathematics. Humboldt University of Berlin, co-organised with Tiago Hirth, Deborah Kant, Deniz Sarikaya, Tobias Schütz, Anna Kiel Steensen, and Benjamin Wilck.Homepage
2019
- Mathematical Cultures, Values and Norms30th Novembertagung on the History and Philosophy of Mathematics. University of Strasbourg, co-organised with Gatien Ricotier, Tiago Hirth, Deborah Kant, Rosie Lev-Halutz, Nicolas Michel, and Benjamin Wilck.Homepage
- On What There Isn’t. Imagination, Impossibilities & Counterfactual Reasoning2nd Düsseldorf Graduate Workshop for Philosophy. HHU, co-organised with Till Gallasch, Sara Ipakchi and Jessica Struchhold.Homepage
2018
- What Do We Do When We Do Metaphysics?1st Düsseldorf Graduate Workshop for Philosophy. HHU, co-organised with Till Gallasch, Sara Ipakchi and Jessica Struchhold.Homepage
Contact
Heinrich Heine University
Universitätsstr. 1
40225 Düsseldorf