Single Idea 17931

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / B. Foundations for Mathematics / 7. Mathematical Structuralism / a. Structuralism]

Full Idea

Structuralism is able to explain why mathematicians are typically only interested in describing the objects they study up to isomorphism - for that is all there is to describe.

Gist of Idea

Structuralism say only 'up to isomorphism' matters because that is all there is to it

Source

Mark Colyvan (Introduction to the Philosophy of Mathematics [2012], 3.1.2)

Book Reference

Colyvan,Mark: 'An Introduction to the Philosophy of Mathematics' [CUP 2012], p.40


Related Idea

Idea 17930 Axioms are 'categorical' if all of their models are isomorphic [Colyvan]