Mathematical Anti-Realism and Modal Nothingism
This Element defends mathematical anti-realism against an underappreciated problem with that view-a problem having to do with modal truthmaking. Part I develops mathematical anti-realism, it defends that view against a number of well-known objections, and it raises a less widely discussed objection to anti-realism-an objection based on the fact that (a) mathematical anti-realists need to commit to the truth of certain kinds of modal claims, and (b) it's not clear that the truth of these modal claims is compatible with mathematical anti-realism. Part II considers various strategies that anti-realists might pursue in trying to solve this modal-truth problem with their view, it argues that there's only one viable view that anti-realists can endorse in order to solve the modal-truth problem, and it argues that the view in question-which is here called modal nothingism-is true.
Product details
- Published: January 2023
- Format: Paperback
- ISBN: 9781009346016
- Length: 86 pages
- Dimensions: 228 × 151 × 6 mm
- Weight: 0.15kg
- Availability: Available
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. What is mathematical anti-realism?
- 3. Mathematical error theory defended
- 4. Paraphrase nominalism and deflationary-truth nominalism revisited
- 5. Modal semantics and modal truthmaking
- 6. Possible worlds
- 7. Modal primitivism
- 8. Modal nothingism to the rescue
- References.
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