Mathematical understanding and “What if things had been different?” questions
Mathematical understanding and “What if things had been different?” questions
Author(s): Andrei MărăşoiuSubject(s): Philosophy, Special Branches of Philosophy, Philosophy of Science
Published by: Институт по философия и социология при БАН
Keywords: mathematical understanding; mathematics; philosophy of mathematics; mathematical understanding; phenomenon; conterexamples.
Summary/Abstract: According to Grimm (2014), we only understand a phenomenon if we know what other phenomena it depends on, and we identify dependencies according to how we answer “What if things had been different?” questions. I argue that this view meets with mathematical counterexamples. For, in mathematics, things couldn't have been different. I consider three replies Grimm may make, and argue they do not succeed.
Journal: Balkan Journal of Philosophy
- Issue Year: XI/2019
- Issue No: 2
- Page Range: 145-154
- Page Count: 10
- Language: English
- Content File-PDF