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Ideas for 'On the Question of Absolute Undecidability', 'The Statesman' and 'A Survey of Metaphysics'

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2 ideas

6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 1. Mathematics

4240	It might be argued that mathematics does not, or should not, aim at truth [Lowe]
	Full Idea: It might be argued that mathematics does not, or should not, aim at truth.
	From: E.J. Lowe (A Survey of Metaphysics [2002], p.375)
	A reaction: Intriguing. Sounds wrong to me. At least maths seems to need the idea of the 'correct' answer. If, however, maths is a huge pattern, there is no correctness, just the pattern. We can be wrong, but maths can't be wrong. Ah, I see…!

6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 5. The Infinite / i. Cardinal infinity

17890	There are at least eleven types of large cardinal, of increasing logical strength [Koellner]
	Full Idea: Some of the standard large cardinals (in order of increasing (logical) strength) are: inaccessible, Mahlo, weakly compact, indescribable, Erdös, measurable, strong, Wodin, supercompact, huge etc. (...and ineffable).
	From: Peter Koellner (On the Question of Absolute Undecidability [2006], 1.4)
	A reaction: [I don't understand how cardinals can have 'logical strength', but I pass it on anyway]