Philosophy of Mathematics Seminar (Monday - Week 2, TT25)
Monday 5 May, 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Ryle Room, Radcliffe Humanities / On-line
Marianna Antonutti Marfori (IHPST Paris): ' Mathematical Naturalism and the Problem of Ontology'
Abstract: In this talk, I will outline a version of mathematical naturalism which provides a new solution to the problem of mathematical ontology, while retaining the methodological autonomy of mathematics. Unlike other accounts of mathematical naturalism, this view allows heterogenous attitudes towards the ontology of different parts of mathematics, while avoiding reductionism and revisionism about mathematics. Assuming that a scientific realist is committed to accepting arithmetic, by interpreting the stronger infinitary theories studied in mathematical practice in a formal theory of arithmetic via the arithmetised completeness theorem, the scientific realist can recognise the reasoning in those theories as a legitimate part of science, while suspending ontological commitment about the entities postulated by strong infinitary theories.
Please note: A notice will be sent out for each talk with the Zoom link.
Philosophy of Mathematics Seminar Convenors: Daniel Isaacson and Christopher Scambler
