Pluralism in Mathematics: A New Position in Philosophy of Mathematics

ISBN-13: 9789400770577 / Angielski / Twarda / 2013 / 291 str.

Michele Friend

Opis

This book is about philosophy, mathematics and logic, giving a philosophical account of Pluralism which is a family of positions in the philosophy of mathematics. There are four parts to this book, beginning with a look at motivations for Pluralism by way of Realism, Maddy's Naturalism, Shapiro's Structuralism and Formalism.

In the second part of this book the author covers: the philosophical presentation of Pluralism; using a formal theory of logic metaphorically; rigour and proof for the Pluralist; and mathematical fixtures. In the third part the author goes on to focus on the transcendental presentation of Pluralism, and in part four looks at applications of Pluralism, such as a Pluralist approach to proof in mathematics and how Pluralism works in regard to together-inconsistent philosophies of mathematics. The book finishes with suggestions for further Pluralist enquiry.

In this work the author takes a deeply radical approach in developing a new position that will either convert readers, or act as a strong warning to treat the word 'pluralism' with care.

Spis treści

Introduction.- Part I. Motivating the Pluralist Position from Familiar Positions.- Chapter 1. Introduction. The Journey from Realism to Pluralism.- Chapter 2. Motivating Pluralism. Starting from Maddy’s Naturalism.- Chapter 3. From Structuralism to Pluralism.- Chapter 4. Formalism and Pluralism Co-written with Andrea Pedeferri.- Part II. Initial Presentation of Pluralism.-  Chapter 5. Philosophical Presentation of Pluralism.- Chapter 6. Using a Formal Theory of Logic Metaphorically.- Chapter 7. Rigour in Proof Co-written with Andrea Pedeferri.- Chapter 8. Mathematical Fixtures.- Part III. Transcendental Presentation of Pluralism.- Chapter 9. The Paradoxes of Tolerance and the Transcendental Paradoxes.- Chapter 10. Pluralism Towards Pluralism.- Part IV. Putting Pluralism to Work. Applications.- Chapter 11. A Pluralist Approach to Proof in Mathematics.- Chapter 12. Pluralism and Together-Inconsistent Philosophies of Mathematics.- Chapter 13. Suggestions for Further Pluralist Enquiry.- Conclusion.​