Philosophy of Mathematics. The Invisible Art
Author: | Anglin, W. |
Year: | 1997 |
Pages: | 260 |
ISBN: | 0-7734-8706-9 978-0-7734-8706-2 |
Price: | $199.95 |
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This book is organized around the distinction between finite and infinite. It includes a brief overview of what different philosophers have said about infinity, and looks at some of the arguments to the effect that one should adopt a pro-infinity attitude. Other chapters contain an exposition of the ontological 'schools'; interactions among these schools and various theories of truth; the relationship between mathematics and values; a history of mathematics; an analysis of mathematical knowledge in terms of some traditional epistemological distinctions; the role of mathematics in education; the implications of religion for the philosophy of mathematics; and finally, reference to mathematical objects. This is a non-technical overview of the central issues in the Philosophy of Mathematics, an insightful but broad picture.
Reviews
"Anglin does a fine job of providing the reader with the proper historical perspective in which many of the philosophical problems of mathematics arose. . . . appropriate for use in a seminar/discussion-based course. Upper-division undergraduate and graduate students." - Choice