Philosophy of Mathematics: An Introduction to a World of Proofs and Pictures

by James Robert Brown

Overview

Philosophy of Mathematics is an excellent introductory text. This student friendly book discusses the great philosophers and the importance of mathematics to their thought. It includes the following topics:
* the mathematical image
* platonism
* picture-proofs
* applied mathematics
* Hilbert and Godel
* knots and nations
* definitions
* picture-proofs and Wittgenstein
* computation, proof and conjecture.
The book is ideal for courses on philosophy of mathematics and logic.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781134806430
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/09/2005
Series:	Philosophical Issues in Science
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	232
File size:	6 MB

About the Author

Brown, James Robert

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 Platonism; Chapter 3 Picture-proofs and Platonism; Chapter 4 What is Applied Mathematics?; Chapter 5 Hilbert and Gödel; Chapter 6 Knots and Notation; Chapter 7 What is a Definition?; Chapter 8 Constructive Approaches; Chapter 9 Proofs, Pictures and Procedures in Wittgenstein; Chapter 10 Computation, Proof and Conjecture; Chapter 11 Calling the Bluff;

Editorial Reviews

This book offers an intriguing sample of both traditional and current ideas in the philosophy of mathematics. Its readable style is aimed at those with more background in philosophy than in mathematics, with detailed examples usually involving only secondary-level algebra and geometry. The author (philosophy, Univ. of Toronto) states that one of his goals is to argue for Platonism. This attempt is not entirely convincing, both because some of Browns positions need more substantiation and because alternative views are presented only insofar as they can be readily dismissed. As the subtitle suggests, a unique feature is the interesting argument in favor of the validity and usefulness of pictures (not limited to geometrical diagrams) as proofs in and of themselves. It is to be hoped that a few mathematically substantive typographical errors in the examples will be corrected in the finished edition. For academic mathematics and philosophy collections.Kristine Fowler, Mathematics Lib., Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis

Library Journal

'This book discusses the great philosophers and the importance of mathematics to their thought.Among the topics coverd are; traditional topics in the philosopy of mathematics, such as platonism, formalism and constructivism; the nature of notion and the character definitions; contemporary computational techniques; current debates among mathematicians over the role of experiments in mathematics.'

'This is a valuable and rather untraditional introduction to some major philosophical issues concerning mathematics.' - Mathematical Reviews

From the Publisher