A Structural Account of Mathematics - Couverture souple

Chihara, Charles S.

 
9780199228072: A Structural Account of Mathematics
Couverture souple
ISBN 10 : 0199228078 ISBN 13 : 9780199228072
Editeur : Clarendon Press, 2007

Synopsis

Charles Chihara's new book develops and defends 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. The view is used to show that, in order to understand how mathematical systems are applied in science and everyday life, it is not necessary to assume that its theorems either presuppose mathematical objects or are even true.

Chihara builds upon his previous work, in which he presented a new system of mathematics, the constructibility theory, which did not make reference to, or presuppose, mathematical objects. Now he develops the project further by analysing mathematical systems currently used by scientists to show how such systems are compatible with this nominalistic outlook. He advances several new ways of undermining the heavily discussed indispensability argument for the existence of mathematical objects made famous by W. V. Quine and Hilary Putnam. And Chihara presents a rationale for the nominalistic outlook that is quite different from those generally put forward, which he maintains have led to serious misunderstandings.

A Structural Account of Mathematics will be required reading for anyone working in this field.

Les informations fournies dans la section « Synopsis » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Présentation de l'éditeur

Charles Chihara's new book develops and defends 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. The view is used to show that, in order to understand how mathematical systems are applied in science and everyday life, it is not necessary to assume that its theorems either presuppose mathematical objects or are even true. Chihara builds upon his previous work, in which he presented a new system of mathematics, the constructibility theory, which did not make reference to, or presuppose, mathematical objects. Now he develops the project further by analysing mathematical systems currently used by scientists to show how such systems are compatible with this nominalistic outlook. He advances several new ways of undermining the heavily discussed indispensability argument for the existence of mathematical objects made famous by W. V. Quine and Hilary Putnam. And Chihara presents a rationale for the nominalistic outlook that is quite different from those generally put forward, which he maintains have led to serious misunderstandings. A Structural Account of Mathematics will be required reading for anyone working in this field.

Revue de presse

Review from previous edition This terrific contribution will promote discussion for and against its views. It has unusually full discussion of what makes "philosophy" of mathematics. It engages in extensive debates with other philosophers. And it has a wide range of examples from pure and applied mathematics. (Colin McLarty, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews)

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Éditeur
Clarendon Press
Date d'édition
2007
Langue
anglais
ISBN 10 
0199228078
ISBN 13 
9780199228072
Reliure
Broché
Nombre de pages
394
Coordonnées du fabricant
non disponible
Personne responsable
Ufficio Anagrafiche Messaggerie
ufficio.anagrafiche@meli.it

Via Verdi, 8
Assago Milano
20090
Italie

Autres éditions populaires du même titre

9780199267538: A Structural Account of Mathematics

Edition présentée

ISBN 10 :  0199267537 ISBN 13 :  9780199267538
Editeur : Oxford University Press, 2003
Couverture rigide