IMAGINE THERE'S NO (PLATONIC) HEAVEN. Issue 39 (12th December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Plebani, Matteo
• Is Part Of: Think. Volume 14:Issue 39(2015)
• Page Start: 73
• Page End: 75
• Publication Date: 2014-12-12
• Subjects: Philosophy -- Periodicals; 105
• DOI: 10.1017/S1477175614000244
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-1756

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Some people think that numbers and other mathematical entities exist. They believe in a platonic heaven of ideal mathematical objects, as some (other) people like to put it. This may seem a very strange thing to believe in: after all, we cannot see numbers, nor touch them, nor smell them. So why should one believe that they exist? Because, as Putnam and Quine used to say, numbers are indispensable to science: it seems almost impossible to state our best scientific theories without mentioning numbers or other mathematical objects.</p> </abstract>