FilMat2026: Filmat Conference 2026 - Philosophy of Mathematics: Applicability, Ontology and Reasoning September 9-11, 2026 |
| Submission link | https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=filmat2026 |
FilMat Conference 2026 – Philosophy of Mathematics: Applicability, Ontology and Reasoning – Call for Papers
Philosophy of Mathematics:
Applicability, Ontology and Reasoning.
Fifth International Conference of the Italian Network for the Philosophy of Mathematics – FilMat
September 9–11, 2026
Department of Philosophy, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Funded by:
UNIVERSITY OF BOLOGNA
DIVISION OF LOGIC, METHODOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (DLMPST)
Under the auspices of:
UNIVERSITY OF BOLOGNA
ITALIAN SOCIETY FOR ANALYTIC PHILOSOPHY (SIFA)
ITALIAN SOCIETY FOR LOGIC AND THE PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE (SILFS)
DIVISION OF LOGIC, METHODOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (DLMPST)
Invited speakers
Chris Pincock (Ohio State University), Davide Rizza (University of East Anglia)
Early career invited speakers
Deborah Kant (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Claudio Ternullo (University of Catania)
The FilMat Conference 2026 aims to explore three themes that are central to current debates: applicability, ontology, and reasoning.
First, the applicability of mathematics is a pressing issue that continues to shape philosophical inquiry. Here applicability will be considered along two dimensions: external applicability, which concerns the role of mathematics in the empirical sciences, and internal applicability, which relates to the successful application of mathematics internally, namely within mathematics itself. Both dimensions raise fundamental questions about the nature and scope of mathematics, and both are at the core of contemporary philosophy of mathematics. In addition to these conceptual concerns, current work on applicability highlights the diversity of mathematical practices that drive successful application—from idealization and abstraction to modelling techniques and computational methods. These practices illuminate how mathematical frameworks are adapted to empirical contexts, and how mathematical structures, once developed, are often repurposed in novel and surprising ways. The study of applicability therefore also intersects with the dynamics of mathematical innovation, prompting renewed reflection on why mathematics proves effective across disparate domains and what this effectiveness reveals about its foundations.
Second, the topic of ontology is inseparably tied to applicability. The most influential argument in favor of mathematical platonism—the indispensability argument—takes the successful applicability of mathematics in the empirical sciences as a central premise. Applicability thus remains a crucial test case for competing ontological positions. At the same time, worries about the indispensability argument have motivated alternative views about the proper way to settle ontological disputes in mathematics, and recent discussions have examined whether ontological commitments are clarified by scientific practice, whether they can be minimized without loss of explanatory power, and how structural or modal interpretations reshape our understanding of mathematical objects. These inquiries increasingly draw on insights from history and practice, revealing how ontological views can be informed by the ways mathematics develops and the roles it plays in inquiry. As a result, it may be thought that ontology is not merely a question of what exists but of how mathematical existence is understood and justified within evolving scientific and mathematical contexts.
Third, philosophical investigations into mathematical reasoning delineate a domain in which concerns about applicability and ontology become concretely manifest. Such studies ask, among other questions, what kinds of justification, inference, and understanding are distinctive of mathematics, and how these epistemic features relate to broader questions about what mathematics is about and why it succeeds. Reasoning not only shapes how mathematical knowledge is produced, but it also plays a central role in determining when and why mathematical concepts become applicable beyond their original contexts. Different ways of reasoning may carry implicit ontological commitments—about structures, objects, or inferential norms—that influence how mathematical theories are interpreted. Moreover, recent decades have seen a flourishing interest in styles of reasoning in mathematics, focusing on how mathematics is actually done: the use of diagrams, the dynamics of proof, the social organization of mathematical research, and the heuristic role of models. Practice-oriented studies raise new questions for ontology—does close attention to mathematical activity support or undermine traditional metaphysical views?—and equally shed light on applicability: how mathematics developed in one area comes to find applications in another, often in unanticipated ways.
By connecting applicability, ontology, and reasoning, the FilMat Conference 2026 seeks to bring together researchers working in different areas in the philosophy of mathematics. Our goal is to foster dialogue across these strands of research, highlighting their mutual influence and their relevance to understanding mathematics as a human and scientific endeavor.
We welcome submissions on any topic related to the three themes—applicability, ontology, and reasoning in mathematics—including historical, formal, and practice-oriented approaches.
Submissions
Abstracts must be written in English, and have a *maximum length of 1500 words (references included)*, and should be prepared for blind-review, with all identifying details omitted. Submission is to be made via EasyChair, at the link specified below. In case of problems with the procedure, please do send inquiries to: conference@filmatnetwork.com.
Deadline for submission is: April 15, 2026.
Notifica: May 15, 2026.
Conference language: English.
Contributed talks will be 30 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of discussion.
Conference venue: University of Bologna.
Practical information: information about the conference venue and accommodation will be posted in due time on the conference website.
EasyChair submission page: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=filmat2026
Submission format and length: .pdf files, max. length: 1500 words (References included).
Registration: Attendance is free and everyone is welcome. For organizational reasons registration by email before end of June will be required (please indicate ‘Registration to FilMat 2026’ in the email`s subject). Participation can be confirmed by writing to conference@filmatnetwork.com (subject: Registration to FilMat).
Important dates
Deadline for submission: April 15, 2026.
Expected notification of acceptance: May 15, 2026.
Conference dates: September 9–11, 2026.
Contacts Web: www.filmatnetwork.com
Email: conference@filmatnetwork.com (please indicate the subject in your email: ‘Registration to FilMat 2026’ or ‘General info request FilMat 2026’’)
Scientific committee
Deborah Kant (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
Daniele Molinini (University of Bologna)
Carlo Nicolai (King's College London)
Marco Panza (Chapman University)
Mario Piazza (Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa)
Chris Pincock (Ohio State University)
Matteo Plebani (University of Torino)
Davide Rizza (University of East Anglia)
Luca San Mauro (University of Bari)
Andrea Sereni (IUSS Pavia)
Claudio Ternullo (University of Catania)
Giorgio Venturi (University of Pisa)
Organising Committee
Daniele Molinini (University of Bologna)
Francesca Boccuni (Vita-Salute San Raffaele University)