John Bigelow

Reality of Numbers

A Physicalist's Philosophy of Mathematics

• Gebundenes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Challenging the myth that mathematical objects can be defined into existence, Bigelow here employs Armstrong's metaphysical materialism to cast new light on mathematics. He identifies natural, real, and imaginary numbers and sets with specified physical properties and relations and, by so doing, draws mathematics back from its sterile, abstract exile into the midst of the physical world.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Oxford University Press, USA
• Seitenzahl: 208
• Erscheinungstermin: 1. September 1988
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 225mm x 149mm x 19mm
• Gewicht: 440g
• ISBN-13: 9780198249573
• ISBN-10: 0198249578
• Artikelnr.: 21801455

Inhaltsangabe

Part I - Metaphysics contains chapter on: Mathematics and universals
Recurrence Part II - Mathematics contains chapters on: Natural Numbers - Pebbles and Pythagoras
Numbers as properties
Numbers as paradigms
Numbers as relations
Numbering sets Real Numbers - Approximations
Arithmetic and Geometry
Proportions
Ratios
Real Numbers Complex Numbers - Imaginary numbers
Complex proportions Sets - From universals to sets
Sets and Essences
Sets and Consistency Part III - Truth and Existence contains chapters on: The Problem - Functions and arguments
Truth and essence
The Fox paradox Wholes and Parts - Counterparts and accidents
Property-instances
Robinson's merger
States of affairs Anyhow to Something - Categories of being
The second-order Fox
Platonism and necessity.