The Search for Certainty : A Philosophical Account of Foundations of Mathematics

The Search for Certainty : A Philosophical Account of Foundations of Mathematics PDF

Author: Marcus Giaquinto

Publisher: Clarendon Press

Published: 2002-06-06

Total Pages: 302

ISBN-13: 0191588172

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The nineteenth century saw a movement to make higher mathematics rigorous. This seemed to be on the brink of success when it was thrown into confusion by the discovery of the class paradoxes. That initiated a period of intense research into the foundations of mathematics, and with it the birth of mathematical logic and a new, sharper debate in the philosophy of mathematics. The Search for Certainty examines this foundational endeavour from the discovery of the paradoxes to the present. Focusing on Russell's logicist programme and Hilbert's finitist programme, Giaquinto investigates how successful they were and how successful they could be. These questions are set in the context of a clear, non-technical exposition and assessment of the most important discoveries in mathematical logic, above all G--ouml--;del's underivability theorems. More than six decades after those discoveries, Giaquinto asks what our present perspective should be on the question of certainty in mathematics. Taking recent developments into account, he gives reasons for a surprisingly positive response.

The Search for Certainty

The Search for Certainty PDF

Author: Krzysztof Burdzy

Publisher: World Scientific

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 270

ISBN-13: 9814273716

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

This volume represents a radical departure from the current philosophical duopoly in the area of foundations of probability, that is, the frequency and subjective theories. One of the main new ideas is a set of scientific laws of probability. The new laws are simple, intuitive and, last but not least, they agree well with the contents of current textbooks on probability. Another major new claim is that the OC frequency statisticsOCO has nothing in common with the OC frequency philosophy of probability, OCO contrary to popular belief. Similarly, contrary to the general perception, the OC Bayesian statisticsOCO shares nothing in common with the OC subjective philosophy of probability.OCO The book is non-partisan on the scientific side OCo it is supportive of both frequency statistics and Bayesian statistics. On the other hand, it contains well-documented and thoroughly-explained criticisms of the frequency and subjective philosophies of probability. Short reviews of other philosophical theories of probability and basic mathematical methods of probability and statistics are incorporated. The book includes substantial chapters on decision theory and teaching probability, and it is easily accessible to the general audience

Philosophy of Mathematics

Philosophy of Mathematics PDF

Author: Paul Benacerraf

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 1984-01-27

Total Pages: 604

ISBN-13: 1107268133

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The twentieth century has witnessed an unprecedented 'crisis in the foundations of mathematics', featuring a world-famous paradox (Russell's Paradox), a challenge to 'classical' mathematics from a world-famous mathematician (the 'mathematical intuitionism' of Brouwer), a new foundational school (Hilbert's Formalism), and the profound incompleteness results of Kurt Gödel. In the same period, the cross-fertilization of mathematics and philosophy resulted in a new sort of 'mathematical philosophy', associated most notably (but in different ways) with Bertrand Russell, W. V. Quine, and Gödel himself, and which remains at the focus of Anglo-Saxon philosophical discussion. The present collection brings together in a convenient form the seminal articles in the philosophy of mathematics by these and other major thinkers. It is a substantially revised version of the edition first published in 1964 and includes a revised bibliography. The volume will be welcomed as a major work of reference at this level in the field.

Philosophy of Mathematics and Mathematical Practice in the Seventeenth Century

Philosophy of Mathematics and Mathematical Practice in the Seventeenth Century PDF

Author: Paolo Mancosu

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 290

ISBN-13: 0195132440

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

1. Philosophy of Mathematics and Mathematical Practice in the Early Seventeenth Century p. 8 1.1 The Quaestio de Certitudine Mathematicarum p. 10 1.2 The Quaestio in the Seventeenth Century p. 15 1.3 The Quaestio and Mathematical Practice p. 24 2. Cavalieri's Geometry of Indivisibles and Guldin's Centers of Gravity p. 34 2.1 Magnitudes, Ratios, and the Method of Exhaustion p. 35 2.2 Cavalieri's Two Methods of Indivisibles p. 38 2.3 Guldin's Objections to Cavalieri's Geometry of Indivisibles p. 50 2.4 Guldin's Centrobaryca and Cavalieri's Objections p. 56 3. Descartes' Geometrie p. 65 3.1 Descartes' Geometrie p. 65 3.2 The Algebraization of Mathematics p. 84 4. The Problem of Continuity p. 92 4.1 Motion and Genetic Definitions p. 94 4.2 The "Causal" Theories in Arnauld and Bolzano p. 100 4.3 Proofs by Contradiction from Kant to the Present p. 105 5. Paradoxes of the Infinite p. 118 5.1 Indivisibles and Infinitely Small Quantities p. 119 5.2 The Infinitely Large p. 129 6. Leibniz's Differential Calculus and Its Opponents p. 150 6.1 Leibniz's Nova Methodus and L'Hopital's Analyse des Infiniment Petits p. 151 6.2 Early Debates with Cluver and Nieuwentijt p. 156 6.3 The Foundational Debate in the Paris Academy of Sciences p. 165 Appendix Giuseppe Biancani's De Mathematicarum Natura p. 178 Notes p. 213 References p. 249 Index p. 267.

Philosophical Approaches to the Foundations of Logic and Mathematics

Philosophical Approaches to the Foundations of Logic and Mathematics PDF

Author: Marcin Trepczyński

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2021-01-25

Total Pages: 316

ISBN-13: 9004445951

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Philosophical Approaches to the Foundations of Logic and Mathematics consists of eleven articles addressing various aspects of the "roots" of logic and mathematics, their basic concepts and the mechanisms that work in the practice of their use.

Isaac Newton on Mathematical Certainty and Method

Isaac Newton on Mathematical Certainty and Method PDF

Author: Niccolò Guicciardini

Publisher: MIT Press

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 449

ISBN-13: 0262013177

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

An analysis of Newton's mathematical work, from early discoveries to mature reflections, and a discussion of Newton's views on the role and nature of mathematics.

Philosophy and Foundations of Mathematics

Philosophy and Foundations of Mathematics PDF

Author: A. Heyting

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2014-05-12

Total Pages: 645

ISBN-13: 1483278158

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

L.E.J. Brouwer: Collected Works, Volume 1: Philosophy and Foundations of Mathematics focuses on the principles, operations, and approaches promoted by Brouwer in studying the philosophy and foundations of mathematics. The publication first ponders on the construction of mathematics. Topics include arithmetic of integers, negative numbers, measurable continuum, irrational numbers, Cartesian geometry, similarity group, characterization of the linear system of the Cartesian or Euclidean and hyperbolic space, and non-Archimedean uniform groups on the one-dimensional continuum. The book then examines mathematics and experience and mathematics and logic. Topics include denumerably unfinished sets, continuum problem, logic of relations, consistency proofs for formal systems independent of their interpretation, infinite numbers, and problems of space and time. The text is a valuable reference for students, mathematicians, and researchers interested in the contributions of Brouwer in the studies on the philosophy and foundations of mathematics.

Philosophy of Mathematics

Philosophy of Mathematics PDF

Author: Ahmet Cevik

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2021-11-09

Total Pages: 352

ISBN-13: 1000468801

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The philosophy of mathematics is an exciting subject. Philosophy of Mathematics: Classic and Contemporary Studies explores the foundations of mathematical thought. The aim of this book is to encourage young mathematicians to think about the philosophical issues behind fundamental concepts and about different views on mathematical objects and mathematical knowledge. With this new approach, the author rekindles an interest in philosophical subjects surrounding the foundations of mathematics. He offers the mathematical motivations behind the topics under debate. He introduces various philosophical positions ranging from the classic views to more contemporary ones, including subjects which are more engaged with mathematical logic. Most books on philosophy of mathematics have little to no focus on the effects of philosophical views on mathematical practice, and no concern on giving crucial mathematical results and their philosophical relevance, consequences, reasons, etc. This book fills this gap. The book can be used as a textbook for a one-semester or even one-year course on philosophy of mathematics. "Other textbooks on the philosophy of mathematics are aimed at philosophers. This book is aimed at mathematicians. Since the author is a mathematician, it is a valuable addition to the literature." - Mark Balaguer, California State University, Los Angeles "There are not many such texts available for mathematics students. I applaud efforts to foster the dialogue between mathematics and philosophy." - Michele Friend, George Washington University and CNRS, Lille, France

Lanterna Rally - Theme by Grace Themes