Theism & Mathematical Realism
نویسنده
چکیده
Historically, most mathematicians have believed that mathematical truths such as "2+5=7" exist independently of human minds, being universally and eternally true. Mathematicians believe they are discovering properties of, say, prime numbers, rather than merely inventing them. This view of mathematics dates back to Pythagoras (500 BC) and Plato (400 BC). It is often called “Platonism”. In order to avoid association with other features of Plato’s philosophy, I shall refer to the notion that mathematical truths are objective as mathematical "realism".
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