Charles S. Chihara

A Structural Account of Mathematics

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Charles Chihara presents a structural view of the nature of mathematics, and uses it to explain a number of striking features of mathematics that have puzzled philosophers for centuries. In particular, this perspective allows Chihara to show that, in order to understand how mathematical systems are applied in science, it is not necessary to assume that its theorems either presuppose mathematical objects or are even true. He also advances several new ways ofundermining the Platonic view of mathematics. Anyone working in the field will find much to reward and stimulate them here.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: OUP Oxford
• Seitenzahl: 396
• Erscheinungstermin: 1. Juli 2007
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 234mm x 156mm x 21mm
• Gewicht: 600g
• ISBN-13: 9780199228072
• ISBN-10: 0199228078
• Artikelnr.: 24538755

Autorenporträt

(Department of Philosophy, University of California, Berkeley, USA)

Inhaltsangabe

Introduction
1: Five Puzzles in Search of an Explanation
2: Geometry and Mathematical Existence
3: The Van Inwagen Puzzle
4: Structuralism
5: Platonism
6: Minimal Anti-Nominalism
7: The Constructibility Theory
8: Constructible Structures
9: Applications
10: If-Thenism
11: Field's Account of Mathematics and Metalogic
Appendix A: Some Doubts about Hellman's Views
Appendix B: Balaguer's Fictionalism