What can the Philosophy of Mathematics Learn from the History of Mathematics?

Erkenntnis 68 (3):393-407 (2008)
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Abstract

This article canvasses five senses in which one might introduce an historical element into the philosophy of mathematics: 1. The temporal dimension of logic; 2. Explanatory Appeal to Context rather than to General Principles; 3. Heraclitean Flux; 4. All history is the History of Thought; and 5. History is Non-Judgmental. It concludes by adapting Bernard Williams’ distinction between ‘history of philosophy’ and ‘history of ideas’ to argue that the philosophy of mathematics is unavoidably historical, but need not and must not merge with historiography.

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10.1007/s10670-008-9107-0

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Brendan Larvor
University of Hertfordshire

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References found in this work

Der Logische Aufbau der Welt.Rudolf Carnap - 1928 - Hamburg: Meiner Verlag.
The nature of mathematical knowledge.Philip Kitcher - 1983 - Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Proofs and refutations: the logic of mathematical discovery.Imre Lakatos (ed.) - 1976 - New York: Cambridge University Press.
Descartes: the project of pure enquiry.Bernard Williams (ed.) - 1978 - Hassocks: Harvester Press.

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