Relatively and Philosophically Earnest Festschrift in Honor of Paul Ernest's 65th Birthday (Hc)

A Volume in The Montana Mathematics Enthusiast:Monograph Series in Mathematics EducationSeries Editor Bharath Sriraman, The University of MontanaPaul Ernest's name is synonymous with social constructivism as a philosophy ofmathematics. His contributions to mathematics education have occurred at a veryfundamental level and to an extent shaped theory development in this field. Hisresearch addresses fundamental questions about the nature of mathematics and how itrelates to teaching, learning and society. For the last three decades Paul has been aprolific scholar who has published in a wide array of topics such as the relationshipbetween the philosophy of mathematics and mathematics education, and moregenerally the philosophy of mathematics education, ethics and values in mathematics education, and the philosophy ofresearch methodology.The title of this Festschrift is meant to be a pun to convey the sometimes relativistic dimension to mathematical certaintythat Paul argued for in developing his philosophy, and also a play on words for the fact that absolute earnestness mayperhaps be a Platonic construct, and not possible in the realm of language and human discourse! Paul Ernest's scholarlyevolution and life can best be summarized in the words of Walt Whitman Do I contradict myself? Very well then Icontradict myself (I am large, I contain multitudes). Indeed his presence has beenlarge and multitudinous and this Festschrift celebrates his 65th Birthday withnumerous contributions coming from the mathematics, philosophy and mathematicseducation communities around the world.