The experiential foundations of mathematical knowledge

History and Philosophy of Logic 2 (1-2):55-65 (1981)
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Abstract

A view of the sources of mathematical knowledge is sketched which emphasizes the close connections between mathematical and empirical knowledge. A platonistic interpretation of mathematical discourse is adopted throughout. Two skeptical views are discussed and rejected. One of these, due to Maturana, is supposed to be based on biological considerations. The other, due to Dummett, is derived from a Wittgensteinian position in the philosophy of language. The paper ends with an elaboration of Gödel's analogy between the mathematician and the physicist

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Citations of this work

The Physicalization of Mathematics.Peter Milne - 1994 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 45 (1):305-340.
Mathematics as natural science.Nicolas D. Goodman - 1990 - Journal of Symbolic Logic 55 (1):182-193.

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References found in this work

Remarks on the foundations of mathematics.Ludwig Wittgenstein - 1956 - Oxford [Eng.]: Blackwell. Edited by G. E. M. Anscombe, Rush Rhees & G. H. von Wright.
Mathematical truth.Paul Benacerraf - 1973 - Journal of Philosophy 70 (19):661-679.
Elements of Intuitionism.Michael Dummett - 1977 - New York: Oxford University Press. Edited by Roberto Minio.

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