Mathematical Phenomenology in the Context of History of Philosophy

Abstract

Mihailo Petrović Alas developed his ideas on mathematical phenomenology at the time when Husserl’s phenomenology was quite influential, however, it seems that Petrović’s understanding of phenomenology isn’t related to Husserl’s. Instead of mechanisms of consciousness, mathematical phenomenology mostly deals with natural phenomena and aims to provide mathematical models of physical processes. While the phrase “mathematical phenomenology” can be traced back to Ludwig Boltzmann, Petrović’s work is more closely linked to the ancient Pythagorean-Platonic philosophy of nature and the ideas of thinkers like Descartes and Leibniz. In ancient times, mathematical analogies were often tied to the concepts of musical harmony and symmetry. In modern philosophy and science, even though symmetry retains an important role, mathematical analogies are based on observed patterns in physical phenomena, which don’t have to include any degree of musical harmony, as Plato and the Pythagoreans would have thought. In a certain way, mathematical phenomenology of Mihailo Petrović Alas bridges the gap between aesthetically inspired natural-philosophical theories and contemporary developments in non-linear physics and dynamics. This raises important questions: how much has mathematical modelling evolved since antiquity? After simplifying complex ideas, do we still rely on the same foundational concepts? What are the limits of mathematical modelling?Balkan Analytic Forum 3: Intentionality & Intentionality of Emotions International Conference, 2–12. October 2025. Belgrad