MATEMATIKA A SKUTOČNOSŤ

• Authors: Ladislav Kvasz

Title variants

EN

Mathematics and reality

• Languages of publication: SK

Abstracts

EN

The aim of the present paper is to offer a new analysis of the multifarious relation between mathematics and reality. We believe that the relation of mathematics to reality is, just like in the case of the natural sciences, mediated by instruments (such as algebraic symbolism, or ruler and compass). Therefore the kind of realism we aim to develop for mathematics can be called instrumental realism. It is a kind of realism, because it is based on the thesis, that mathematics describes certain patterns of reality. And it is instrumental realism, because it pays attention to the role of instruments by means of which mathematics identifies these patterns.

Keywords

EN

REALISM; REALITY; MATHEMATICS; STRUCTURALISM; INTRUMENTAL REALISM

• Publisher: Institute of Philosophy of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and Institute of Philosophy of Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic
• Journal: Organon F. medzinárodný časopis pre analytickú filozofiu
• Year: 2011
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 302 – 330

Contributors

author

Ladislav Kvasz

• Filosofický ústav AV ČR, Jilská 1, 110 00 Praha, Czech Republic