Single Idea 10062

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 7. Formalism]

Full Idea

Formalism seems to exclude from consideration all creative, growing mathematics.

Gist of Idea

Formalism seems to exclude all creative, growing mathematics

Source

Alan Musgrave (Logicism Revisited [1977], §5)

Book Reference

-: 'British Soc for the Philosophy of Science' [-], p.119


A Reaction

[He cites Lakatos in support] I am not immediately clear why spotting the remote implications of a formal system should be uncreative. The greatest chess players are considered to be highly creative and imaginative.