Single Idea 9943

[catalogued under 7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 4. Anti-realism]

Full Idea

Surely the mere fact that we may never know whether the continuum hypothesis is true or false is by itself just no reason to think that it doesn't have a truth value!

Gist of Idea

You can't deny a hypothesis a truth-value simply because we may never know it!

Source

Hilary Putnam (Mathematics without Foundations [1967])

Book Reference

'Philosophy of Mathematics: readings (2nd)', ed/tr. Benacerraf/Putnam [CUP 1983], p.305


A Reaction

This is Putnam in 1967. Things changed later. Personally I am with the younger man all they way, but I reserve the right to totally change my mind.