| Reviews |
| - '"Stewart Shapiro admirably provides an accessible introduction to contemporary thinking in mathematics, while avoiding caricature of the technicalities. His ease with the subject and lucid style makes this book a succinct introduction to a fascinating intellectual discipline." Times Literary Supplement' -
|
| Description | | - The only introductory guide to the philosophy of mathematics aimed at the general reader/undergraduate student
- Uniquely guides reader through the 'history' of the subject providing an overview of major philosophical positions and debates, as well as the major philosophers of the 20th Century
- Only basic prior knowledge of either philosophy or mathematics needed, making it ideal for the student or reader coming to the subject for the first time
|
This unique text by Stewart Shapiro looks at a range of philosophical issues and positions concerning mathematics in four comprehensive sections. The first describes questions and issues about mathematics that have motivated philosophers almost since the beginning of intellectual history. Part II is an historical survey, discussing the role of mathematics in such thinkers as Plato, Aristotle,
Kant, and Mill. The third section covers the three major positions, and battle lines, throughout the twentieth century: that mathematics is logic (logicism), that the essence of mathematics is the rule-governed manipulation of characters (formalism), and a revisionist philosophy that focuses on the mental activity of mathematics (intuitionism). Finally, Part IV looks at contemporary positions and
work which brings the reader up-to-date on the discipline.
Thinking about Mathematics
is accessible to those with little background in either mathematics or philosophy. It is aimed at students and professionals in mathematics who have little contact with academic philosophy and at philosophy students and other philosophers who forgot much of their mathematics.
|
Readership: 1st and 2nd year undergraduate students of logic and general philosophy; the general reader with an interest in mathematics with little back ground in philosophy and those interested in philosophy with little background in mathematics.
| Contents |
Part I. Perspective
Chapter 1. What is so interesting about mathematics (for philosopher)?
Chapter 2. A Potpourri of questions and attempted answers
Part II. History
Chapter 3. Plato's Rationalism, and Aristotle
Chapter 4. Near opposites: Kant and Mill
Part III. The big three
Chapter 5. Logicism: Is mathematics (just) logic?
Chapter 6. Formalism: Do mathematical statements mean anything?
Chapter 7. Intuitionism: is something wrong with our logic?
Part IV. The contemporary scene
Chapter 8. Numbers exist
Chapter 9. No they don't
Chapter 10. Structuralism
References
Index
|
| Authors, editors,
and contributors |
Stewart Shapiro, Professor of Philosophy at Ohio State University at Newark; Professorial Fellow, Department of Logic and Metaphysics, University of St. Andrews
|
The specification in this catalogue, including without
limitation price, format, extent, number of illustrations,
and month of publication, was as accurate as
possible at the time the catalogue was compiled.
Occasionally, due to the nature of some contractual restrictions, we
are unable to ship a specific product to a particular territory.
Jacket images are provisional and liable to change before publication.
|
VIEW BASKET
