The Philosophical View Of Mathematics - 992 Words

Many philosophers use pure mathematics and/or mathematical truths as a basis for their philosophical claims. Saying that beliefs and concepts are possible because of mathematics is possible due to the unchanging nature of the subject. Mathematics is known to be an absolute truth that is not doubted, allowing it act as a fixed truth for new ideas. However, what would life and philosophy be like if we did not have a basis of pure mathematics and/or mathematical truths to rely on? Descartes’ based almost all of his claims on the fact that mathematics, was what he called â€Å"the most certain truth† (Descartes). Without that basis of mathematics, many of his claims of what does and does not exist would have no meaning. Descartes claims that because mathematics exists as something clear and certain, it must be possible for other things to exist in this same manner. He uses this argument to defend more conceptual and philosophical beliefs like his belief in God. Descartes says â€Å"I no less find the idea of a God in my consciousness, that is the idea of a being supremely perfect, than that of any figure or number† (Descartes). When analyzing this quote, Descartes is saying that he finds the idea of God just as plausible as that of the reliable figures and numbers that are present in mathematics. However, if mathematics wasn’t plausible, would that mean that God is henceforth implausible by association? This seemingly necessar y association is shown more clearly when DescartesShow MoreRelatedGreek Philosophy And The Greek Creation1593 Words   |  7 PagesWhat is the world made of? What is the ultimate substance of reality? This is why they were classified as â€Å"thinkers†. Greek philosophers were great thinkers who were determined to seek out the validity behind a certain subject. The Ancient Greek philosophical tradition broke away from a mythological approach that used Greek heroes to explain the world, and it initiated an approach based on logic and evidence. One philosopher who has had a great impact on western civilization between 2000Read MoreStudents Should Not Be Special Assistance933 Words   |  4 Pagesprograms or assistance from teachers and the school. This issue is a reflection of beliefs about how success in mathematics is achieved, and more broadly reflects the different philosophical views about the purpose of education that are held by educators and members of the community more broadly. The belief that mathematically talented students should receive special assistance is founded in the view that the purpose of education is to support students in achieving their full potential, or to promote academicRead More Descartes Essay1269 Words   |  6 Pages In the early 17th century a philosopher named Descartes, questioned his existence. His life was dedicated to the founding of a philosophical and mathematical system in which all sciences were logical. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Descartes was born in 1596 in Touraine, France. His education consisted of attendance to a Jesuit school of La Fleche. He studied a liberal arts program that emphasized philosophy, the humanities, science, and math. He then went on to the University of Poitiers whereRead MoreWhat Links Disciplines Of Literature, Philosophy And Mathematics1635 Words   |  7 PagesWhat links the disciplines of literature, philosophy and mathematics? The answer is, quite simply, fiction. Fiction has probably existed since the human brain was capable of imagination, either for distraction or for the more functional purpose of envisioning hunt scenarios when our nomadic ancestors would need to survive. 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In contrast, a rival view is that there are only physical things, hence there is no separation between mind and body as suggested by dualism, and that the mind is most accurately described in physical terms. (One physicalist view is the identity theory (Place, 1956, Smart, 1959)) So as not to prejudge these problems it may be better to talk of the ‘metaphysics of consciousness’Read MoreThe Value of Philosophy Essay754 Words   |  4 Pagessynthesize their religious faiths with Greek and Roman philosophy. Modern philosophy includes the various philosophical attempts in the 17th and 18th centuries to react to the scientific revolution which took place during the 17th century. It culminates in the philosophical system created the German philosopher, Immanuel Kant. 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In contrast, a rival view is that there are only physical things, hence there is no separation between mind and body as suggested by dualism, and that the mind is most accurately described in physical terms. (One physicalist view is the identity theory (Place, 1956, Smart, 1959)) So as not to prejudge these problems it may be better to talk of the ‘metaphysics of consciousness’Read MoreThe Problem Of Separation And Dualism1399 Words   |  6 Pagesproperties (Strawson, 1959), in which the mind is somehow considered as a non-physical thing, thus separated from the physical world. In contrast, a rival view is that there are only physical things, hence there is no separation between mind and body as suggested by dualism, and that the mind is most accurately described in physical terms. (One physicalist view is the identity theory (Place, 1956, Smart, 1959)) So as not to prejudge these problems it may be better to talk of the ‘metaphysics of consciousness’