Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'Philosophy of Mathematics', 'The iterative conception of Set' and 'Letters to a German Princess'

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6 ideas

2. Reason / D. Definition / 8. Impredicative Definition
10882 Predicative definitions only refer to entities outside the defined collection [Horsten]
     Full Idea: Definitions are called 'predicative', and are considered sound, if they only refer to entities which exist independently from the defined collection.
     From: Leon Horsten (Philosophy of Mathematics [2007], §2.4)
4. Formal Logic / F. Set Theory ST / 4. Axioms for Sets / h. Axiom of Replacement VII
18192 Do the Replacement Axioms exceed the iterative conception of sets? [Boolos, by Maddy]
     Full Idea: For Boolos, the Replacement Axioms go beyond the iterative conception.
     From: report of George Boolos (The iterative conception of Set [1971]) by Penelope Maddy - Naturalism in Mathematics I.3
5. Theory of Logic / J. Model Theory in Logic / 2. Isomorphisms
10884 A theory is 'categorical' if it has just one model up to isomorphism [Horsten]
     Full Idea: If a theory has, up to isomorphism, exactly one model, then it is said to be 'categorical'.
     From: Leon Horsten (Philosophy of Mathematics [2007], §5.2)
6. Mathematics / B. Foundations for Mathematics / 2. Proof in Mathematics
10885 Computer proofs don't provide explanations [Horsten]
     Full Idea: Mathematicians are uncomfortable with computerised proofs because a 'good' proof should do more than convince us that a certain statement is true. It should also explain why the statement in question holds.
     From: Leon Horsten (Philosophy of Mathematics [2007], §5.3)
6. Mathematics / B. Foundations for Mathematics / 6. Mathematics as Set Theory / a. Mathematics is set theory
10881 The concept of 'ordinal number' is set-theoretic, not arithmetical [Horsten]
     Full Idea: The notion of an ordinal number is a set-theoretic, and hence non-arithmetical, concept.
     From: Leon Horsten (Philosophy of Mathematics [2007], §2.3)
26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 1. Laws of Nature
5467 Euler said nature is instrinsically passive, and minds cause change [Euler, by Ellis]
     Full Idea: Euler thought the powers necessary for the maintenance of the changing universe would turn out to be just the passive ones of inertia and impenetrability. There are no active powers, he urged, other than those of God and living beings.
     From: report of Leonhard Euler (Letters to a German Princess [1765]) by Brian Ellis - The Philosophy of Nature: new essentialism Ch.4
     A reaction: Very significant, I think, for revealing the religious framework behind early theories of natural laws. If there is nothing external to impose powers and movements on nature, the source must be sought within - hence essentialism.