The epistemic decolonisation path in Verran’s Science and an African Logic [Chad Harris]

Date: March 11th 2021

Speaker: Chad Harris (University of Johannesburg)

Chair: Taraneh Wilkinson

Helen Verran’s Science and an African Logic, which tackles the public problem of mathematics and science education in post-independence Africa , is renowned for its insightful account of the differences between English and Yoruba numbering systems and how these differences in turn generate differing generalizing logics. In this talk I will focus on some neglected aspects of Verran’s argument in the book, specifically those relating to ontology and knowledge. I will draw on Verran’s insights to generate an account of epistemic decolonization that is resilient to the twin perils of universalism and relativism.