Meaning in Mathematics 1st Edition by John Polkinghorne (PDF)

Description

Is mathematics a highly sophisticated intellectual game in which the adepts display their skill by tackling invented problems, or are mathematicians engaged in acts of discovery as they explore an independent realm of mathematical reality? Why does this seemingly abstract discipline provide the key to unlocking the deep secrets of the physical universe? How one answers these questions will significantly influence metaphysical thinking about reality.This book is intended to fill a gap between popular ‘wonders of mathematics’ books and the technical writings of the philosophers of mathematics. The chapters are written by some of the world’s finest mathematicians, mathematical physicists and philosophers of mathematics, each giving their perspective on this fascinating debate. Every chapter is followed by a short response from another member of the author team, reinforcing the main theme and raising further questions.Accessible to anyone interested in what mathematics really means, and useful for mathematicians and philosophers of science at all levels, Meaning in Mathematics offers deep new insights into a subject many people take for granted.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐I had initially thought this book would be about what the patterns in mathematics can tell us about the word around us. Instead this book is not about the “meaning in mathematics” it is the “meaning of mathematics”. It is a collection of short essays from mathematicans and philosophers on the metaphysics behind math. Much of it seemed to me to be misguided. Like the entire first essay, trying to find some existential truth in observations on whether we apply the words “invention” or “discovery” to mathematics. Or metaphysical debate that I would liken to arguing with oneself whether the color red exists or not.I am sure the contributors know their fields, and I could not rule out that another audience might find it a lot more interesting. Which is why I do not dump the score completely. However it does not “offer deep new insights” like the blurb promises.What the introduction found on Amazon also doesn’t mention is that this is the outcome of a symposium supported by the Templeton Foundation. A fact I think is significant considering the criticisms of them having a vested interest in these kinds of existential questions. I would probably not have bought the book had I known how it came to be.

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