back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 12418

[from 'The Nature of Mathematical Knowledge' by Philip Kitcher, in 12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 6. A Priori from Reason ]

Full Idea

When we follow long mathematical proofs we lose our a priori warrants for their beginnings.

Gist of Idea

In long mathematical proofs we can't remember the original a priori basis

Source

Philip Kitcher (The Nature of Mathematical Knowledge [1984], 02.2)

Book Reference

Kitcher,Philip: 'The Nature of Mathematical Knowledge' [OUP 1984], p.45


A Reaction

Kitcher says Descartes complains about this problem several times in his 'Regulae'. The problem runs even deeper into all reasoning, if you become sceptical about memory. You have to remember step 1 when you do step 2.