Putnam and the Indispensability of Mathematics
In this paper, I examine Putnam’s nuanced views in the philosophy of mathematics, distinguishing three proposals: modalism (an interpretation of mathematics in terms of modal logic), quasi-empirical realism (that emphasizes the role and use of quasi-empirical methods in mathematics), and an indispe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
2013-08-01
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| Series: | Principia: An International Journal of Epistemology |
| Online Access: | https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/principia/article/view/32342 |
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| author | Otávio Bueno |
| author_facet | Otávio Bueno |
| author_sort | Otávio Bueno |
| collection | DOAJ |
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In this paper, I examine Putnam’s nuanced views in the philosophy of mathematics, distinguishing three proposals: modalism (an interpretation of mathematics in terms of modal logic), quasi-empirical realism (that emphasizes the role and use of quasi-empirical methods in mathematics), and an indispensability view (that highlights the indispensable role of quantification over mathematical objects and the support such quantification provides for a realist interpretation of mathematics). I argue that, as he shifted through these views, Putnam aimed to preserve a semantic realist account of mathematics that avoids platonism. In the end, however, each of the proposals faces significant difficulties. A form of skepticism then emerges
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-904f55fb489c49bfbd1c2ac68db2a552 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1808-1711 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2013-08-01 |
| publisher | Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Principia: An International Journal of Epistemology |
| spelling | doaj-art-904f55fb489c49bfbd1c2ac68db2a5522025-08-20T03:42:13ZengUniversidade Federal de Santa CatarinaPrincipia: An International Journal of Epistemology1808-17112013-08-0117210.5007/1808-1711.2013v17n2p21721439Putnam and the Indispensability of MathematicsOtávio Bueno0Department of Philosophy, University of Miami In this paper, I examine Putnam’s nuanced views in the philosophy of mathematics, distinguishing three proposals: modalism (an interpretation of mathematics in terms of modal logic), quasi-empirical realism (that emphasizes the role and use of quasi-empirical methods in mathematics), and an indispensability view (that highlights the indispensable role of quantification over mathematical objects and the support such quantification provides for a realist interpretation of mathematics). I argue that, as he shifted through these views, Putnam aimed to preserve a semantic realist account of mathematics that avoids platonism. In the end, however, each of the proposals faces significant difficulties. A form of skepticism then emerges https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/principia/article/view/32342 |
| spellingShingle | Otávio Bueno Putnam and the Indispensability of Mathematics Principia: An International Journal of Epistemology |
| title | Putnam and the Indispensability of Mathematics |
| title_full | Putnam and the Indispensability of Mathematics |
| title_fullStr | Putnam and the Indispensability of Mathematics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Putnam and the Indispensability of Mathematics |
| title_short | Putnam and the Indispensability of Mathematics |
| title_sort | putnam and the indispensability of mathematics |
| url | https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/principia/article/view/32342 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT otaviobueno putnamandtheindispensabilityofmathematics |