The Professional Ethos of Mathematicians

• Published in: Revue française de sociologie Vol. 52; no. supplement; pp. 153 - 186
• Main Author: Zarca, Bernard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2011
• Subjects: Aesthetics; Constructivism; Elitism; France; Internet; Laboratories; Relativism; Universities

This analysis of the professional ethos of mathematicians, which runs counter to the relativist position of social constructivism, is situated in relation to the contributions and limitations of various sociological approaches to mathematics as a specific scientific practice. It becomes clear that,...