Phenomenology and mathematical practice

Philosophia Mathematica 10 (1):3-14 (2002)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

A phenomenological approach to mathematical practice is sketched out, and some problems with this sort of approach are considered. The approach outlined takes mathematical practices as its data, and seeks to provide an empirically adequate philosophy of mathematics based on observation of these practices. Some observations are presented, based on two case studies of some research into the classification of C*-algebras. It is suggested that an anti-realist account of mathematics could be developed on the basis of these and other studies, locating the substance of mathematics in the various informal argument methods used by mathematicians.

Other Versions

No versions found

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 103,401

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Structure in mathematics and logic: A categorical perspective.S. Awodey - 1996 - Philosophia Mathematica 4 (3):209-237.
Mathematical Progress — On Maddy and Beyond.Simon Weisgerber - 2023 - Philosophia Mathematica 31 (1):1-28.
Wittgenstein's critical Philosophy of Mathematical Practice.Frank Scheppers - 2024 - Philosophical Investigations 47 (4):440-460.
A Non-error Theory Approach to Mathematical Fictionalism.Phil Bériault - 2018 - In Amy Ackerberg-Hastings, Marion W. Alexander, Zoe Ashton, Christopher Baltus, Phil Bériault, Daniel J. Curtin, Eamon Darnell, Craig Fraser, Roger Godard, William W. Hackborn, Duncan J. Melville, Valérie Lynn Therrien, Aaron Thomas-Bolduc & R. S. D. Thomas, Research in History and Philosophy of Mathematics: The Cshpm 2017 Annual Meeting in Toronto, Ontario. Springer Verlag. pp. 181-189.
Proof, Practice, and Progress.Mary Catherine Leng - 2002 - Dissertation, University of Toronto (Canada)

Analytics

Added to PP
2009-01-28

Downloads
107 (#204,533)

6 months
15 (#168,777)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Mary Leng
University of York

References found in this work

Realism in mathematics.Penelope Maddy - 1990 - New York: Oxford University Prress.
The Mangle of Practice.Andrew Pickering & Jed Z. Buchwald - 1996 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 47 (3):479-482.
What is Mathematics, Really?Reuben Hersh - 1997 - New York: Oxford University Press.

View all 24 references / Add more references