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OverviewThis 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. Full Product DetailsAuthor: Charles S. Chihara (Professor of Philosophy, Professor of Philosophy, University of California at Berkeley, USA)Publisher: Oxford University Press Imprint: Clarendon Press Dimensions: Width: 14.30cm , Height: 2.30cm , Length: 22.40cm Weight: 0.514kg ISBN: 9780198248170ISBN 10: 0198248172 Pages: 298 Publication Date: 12 April 1990 Audience: Professional and scholarly , Professional & Vocational Format: Hardback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: To order ![]() Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us. Table of ContentsPART I: THE CONSTRUCTIBILITY THEORY: The Problem of Existence in Mathematics; The Constructibility Quantifiers; Constructibility and Open-Sentences; The Deductive System; Cardinality and Number Theory; Measurable Quantities and Analysis. PART II: PHILOSOPHICAL DEVELOPMENTS: Mathematical Structuralism; Science Without Numbers; Why Burgess is a Moderate Realist; Maddy's Solution to the Problem of Reference; Kitcher's Ideal Agents; Deflationism and Mathematical Truth. Appendix; Field's Nominalistic Logical Theory.Reviews'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) `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) Author InformationTab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |