Practice, Constraint, and Mathematical Concepts

Practice, Constraint, and Mathematical Concepts

Blog Article

In this piece I articulate and defend a conception of mathematical practice and mathematical subject-matter, which is responsive both to a sensible pluralism concerning the connection between inferential practices and guiding interests, on the one hand, and to the objective content-determining structure of mathematical concepts on the other.I begin by sketching a general characterization of practices themselves, and redken shades eq 07m driftwood by specifying some of the unique features of mathematical practices.An examination of inferential pluralism follows, and some insights of natio glide on eyeshadow stick pluralist arguments are retained.But I argue further for the requirement of some form of mathematical realism, though the object-realism of the indispensability argument is assessed and rejected.

My positive proposal argues for a form of concept-realism, which is established by what I call the "argument from constraint.".