Rescuing Implicit Definition from Abstractionism

  • Daniel WAXMAN (Speaker)

Activity: Talks or PresentationsOther Invited Talks or Presentations

Description

Neo-Fregeans in the philosophy of mathematics hold that the key to a correct understanding of mathematics is the implicit definition of mathematical language. In this paper, I discuss and advocate the rejection of abstractionism: the constraint (implicit within much of the recent neo-Fregean tradition) according to which all acceptable implicit definitions take the form of abstraction principles. I argue if we take the axioms of mathematical theories themselves as implicit definitions, a much more attractive and unified view of mathematics results.
Period17 Jul 2019
Event titleIUSS Philosophy Seminars: eMath Project - Epistemology of Mathematics and Logic
Event typeSeminar
OrganiserScuola Normale Superiore di Pisa
LocationPavia, ItalyShow on map