Is It Possible to Use Philosophy in Mathematics Education?

The program titled “A Philosophical Perspective on Mathematics,” organized by the IZU Department of Mathematics Teaching, addressed the possibility of using philosophy in mathematics education. The event was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Şükrü Özdemir, along with academics and students, and featured Meryem Afacan, Philosophy Coordinator at Palet Schools, as a guest speaker.

Stating that philosophy and mathematics are like twin siblings, Afacan expressed that the two disciplines nourish one another. She noted that the Socratic method is a method of elicitation, emphasizing that this approach deepens thinking through questions and, when applied in education, can contribute to students’ problem-solving skills. Afacan also stated that philosophy can be practiced with children and adapted to mathematics education. Referring to Al-Ghazali, she underlined that mathematics holds an important place in understanding and making sense of life, and described philosophy as an effective tool for developing students’ creative and critical thinking skills.