Implicit Epistemic Aspects of Constructive Logic

In the present paper I wish to regard constructive logic as a self-contained system for the treatment of epistemological issues; the explanations of the constructivist logical notions are cast in an epistemological mold already from the outset. The discussion offered here intends to make explicit this implicit epistemic character of constructivism. Particular attention will be given to the intended interpretation laid down by Heyting. This interpretation, especially as refined in the type-theoretical work of Per Martin-Löf, puts the system on par with the early efforts of Frege and Whitehead-Russell. This quite recent work, however, has proved valuable not only in the philosophy and foundations of mathematics, but has also found practical application in computer science, where the language of constructivism serves as an implementable programming language, and within the philosophy of language. My presentation will be carried out through a contrast with standard metamathematical work. In the course of the development I have occasion to offer some novel considerations (in Sections 6 and 8) on the nature of proof and inference(-acts).