more from Philip Kitcher

Single Idea 18064

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 10. Constructivism / c. Conceptualism]

Full Idea

Someone who believes that basic truths of mathematics are true in virtue of meaning is not absolved from the task of saying what the referents of mathematical terms are, or ...what mathematical reality is like.

Gist of Idea

If meaning makes mathematics true, you still need to say what the meanings refer to

Source

Philip Kitcher (The Nature of Mathematical Knowledge [1984], 04.6)

Book Reference

Kitcher,Philip: 'The Nature of Mathematical Knowledge' [OUP 1984], p.86


A Reaction

Nice question! He's a fan of getting at the explanatory in mathematics.