Kastamonu University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Philosophy and History of Science Society organized a conference titled “Between Object and Judgment in Islamic Philosophy: ‘Philosophy of Mathematics’ in the History of Science” with the participation of Prof. Dr. İhsan Fazlıoğlu as a speaker on May 9, 2024, at our University's Central Library, Sezai Karakoç Hall.
Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Atalan, academic and administrative staff, and students attended the conference.
In his speech, Prof. Dr. İhsan Fazlıoğlu discussed the philosophy of mathematics and defined the knowledge produced by mathematics and the method on which it is based.
He emphasized the syntax and semantics of the language on which this method is based, the value of mathematical knowledge of the meaning of structure, and the analysis of other knowledge as a discipline.
Prof. Dr. Fazlıoğlu said that the sciences are not satisfied with the way reality presents itself to human beings, and that they investigate why reality presents itself the way it does. Prof. Dr. Fazlıoğlu said that human beings are not satisfied with what is presented to them, regardless of whether the spheres of reality are mathematical, religious, moral, or physical, and that this is how many branches of science emerged by searching for more.
Explaining this with an analogy, Prof. Dr. Fazlıoğlu said that the sphere of reality is not presented on a computer screen, but that the philosophy of science is curious about the software as well as the image on the screen. Prof. Dr. Fazlıoğlu said that cultures with a strong knowledge of logic dominated the classical traditions and underlined that the knowledge of logic was dominant in Ancient Rome, Byzantium, and the Ottoman Empire.
Stating that the need for a mathematical object to make a scientific theory and reality meaningful determines their ontological status, Prof. Dr. İhsan Fazlıoğlu explained the connection between the philosophy of mathematics and life and said, “Where do we build triangles? Is our mind building them? If our minds are constructing these things now, how do we capture physical reality with them? Let's say we do. What is the point of that? Then isn't reality a little bit dependent on our minds, math?” Prof. Dr. Fazlıoğlu further elaborated on the connection between the philosophy of mathematics and life, stating that mathematics is the product of the human mind. In this context, it also shapes the human relationship with reality. He emphasized that mathematics is a universal language and that people strive to understand reality through this language.
In his speech, Prof. Dr. Fazlıoğlu touched upon the importance and development of the philosophy of mathematics in the Islamic tradition of thought. He explained how the Islamic world's tradition of mathematics and philosophy influenced each other and how this interaction paved the way in the history of science. He emphasized that the philosophy of mathematics in the Islamic tradition of thought is an important component that deeply influences scientific and philosophical thought.
The event ended with the presentation of a gift to Prof. Dr İhsan Fazlıoğlu by Prof. Dr Serhat Yılmaz, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the presentation of a plaque by Vice Dean Prof. Dr Fatma Zehra Pattabanoğlu, followed by a souvenir photograph.
