Single Idea 15923

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 5. The Infinite / d. Actual infinite]

Full Idea

Poincaré rejected the actual infinite. He viewed mathematics that is apparently concerned with the actual infinite as actually concerning the finite linguistic definitions the putatively describe actually infinite objects.

Gist of Idea

Poincaré rejected the actual infinite, claiming definitions gave apparent infinity to finite objects

Source

report of Henri Poincaré (On the Nature of Mathematical Reasoning [1894]) by Shaughan Lavine - Understanding the Infinite

Book Reference

Lavine,Shaughan: 'Understanding the Infinite' [Harvard 1994], p.107