Knowledge, Cause, and Abstract Objects: Causal Objections to Platonism

Colin Cheyne

ISBN 10: 1402000510 / ISBN 13: 9781402000515

Editore: Springer-Verlag New York Inc., 2001

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Codice articolo C9781402000515

Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: Knowledge, Cause, and Abstract Objects: Causal Objections to Platonism
• Editore: Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
• Data di pubblicazione: 2001
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 1402000510
• ISBN 13: 9781402000515
• Rilegatura: Hardback
• Condizione: New
• Peso: 574 grammi

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

According to platonists, entities such as numbers, sets, propositions and properties are abstract objects. But abstract objects lack causal powers and a location in space and time, so how could we ever come to know of the existence of such impotent and remote objects? In Knowledge, Cause, and Abstract Objects, Colin Cheyne presents the first systematic and detailed account of this epistemological objection to the platonist doctrine that abstract objects exist and can be known. Since mathematics has such a central role in the acquisition of scientific knowledge, he concentrates on mathematical platonism. He also concentrates on our knowledge of what exists, and argues for a causal constraint on such existential knowledge. Finally, he exposes the weaknesses of recent attempts by platonists to account for our supposed platonic knowledge.
This book will be of particular interest to researchers and advanced students of epistemology and of the philosophy of mathematics and science. It will also be of interest to all philosophers with a general interest in metaphysics and ontology.

Contenuti

Foreword. Acknowledgements. 1. Platonism and Causality. 2. Beliefs and Facts. 3. Beliefs and Causes. 4. The Case for a Causal Connection. 5. Is a Causal Connection Necessary for Knowledge? 6. Other Theories of Knowledge. 7. Existence Claims and Causality. 8. The Burden of Proof. 9. Platonic Knowledge by Intuition. 10. Apriorism. 11. Indispensability and Platonic Knowledge. 12. Problems with Prolifigate Platonism. Conclusion. Appendices. Bibliography. Index.