Single Idea 13419

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 8. Finitism]

Full Idea

The finitist may have no conception of function, because functions are transfinite objects.

Gist of Idea

If functions are transfinite objects, finitists can have no conception of them

Source

Charles Parsons (Review of Tait 'Provenance of Pure Reason' [2009], §4)

Book Reference

-: 'Philosophia Mathematica' [-], p.237


A Reaction

He is offering a view of Tait's. Above my pay scale, but it sounds like a powerful objection to the finitist view. Maybe there is a finitist account of functions that could be given?