Constructibility and Mathematical Existence - Hardcover

Chihara, Charles S.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0198248172 ISBN 13: 9780198248170

Publisher: Clarendon Press, 1990

Synopsis

This book is concerned with `the problem of existence in mathematics'. It develops a mathematical system in which there are no existence assertions but only assertions of the constructibility of certain sorts of things. It explores the philosophical implications of such an approach in an examination of the writings of Field, Burgess, Maddy, Kitcher, and others.

About this title

Review

`More than half of this important book is devoted to extended, largely informal discussions of just about everybody engaged in post-Quinean philosophy of mathematics ... Especially delightful are Chihara's exchanges with all or almost all of these philosophers in the form of personal correspondence.' Review of Metaphysics

'the book is written in a lively, engaging style and is filled with penetrating analyses and careful thought ... I recommend it to anyone with a serious interest in the philosophy of mathematics.' Stewart Shapiro, Ohio State University, Mind, Vol. 101, No. 402, April 1992

'I regard this as an important book, for, in presenting the details of a linguistic modal interpretation of much of scientifically applicable mathematics, it helps sharpen and deepen our understanding of some of the most interesting issues in the philosophy of mathematics, and it thereby pushes our subject forward.Geoffrey Hellman, Philosophia Mathematica, Series III, 1993

'an important work in the philosophy of mathematics, well deserving of more careful study and analysis than there has been room for here'John P. Burgess, Princeton University, The Philosophical Review, Vol. 101, No. 4, (October 1992)

Edition details

• Publisher: Clarendon Press
• Publication date: 1990
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0198248172
• ISBN 13: 9780198248170
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 298