Philosophy of mathematics

Philosophy in Mathematics Mathematics has contributed to the alteration of technology over many years. The most noticeable mathematical technology is the evolution of the abacus to the many variations of the calculator. Some people argue that the changes in technology have been for the better while others argue they have been for the worse. While this paper does not address specifically technology, this paper rather addresses influential persons in philosophy to the field of mathematics.

What 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. Fiction can be defined as a literary tool that fools readers or theatre goers into thinking that the author possesses certain knowledge about the world (Plato et al., 1963) but

constructivist model that allow students to scaffold their learning through cognitive processes that are facilitated by teaching in a resource rich and collaborative environment (Thompson, 1994, p.69). The student Constructivist learning in mathematics should endeavour to encourage students to “construct their own mathematical knowledge through social interaction and meaningful activities

This seems a trivial question, mathematics defines circles as 2-dimensional shapes made by drawing a curve that is always the same distance from a centre. Circles however seem to be more than just this. When one is asked to think of things, we think of cars, trees, apples, etc. all physical

In philosophy a major topic is the idea of certainty. Without certainty of any kind, there is little else to bother thinking about because if we are not certain about something, then why bother study and think on it since you could be wasting your time. So the first step for most topics should be to determine if you are certain of its existence. I plan to prove that if a computer is created with certainty, then the existence of near everything can be proved, so long as it is not a subjective topic

Infinite divisibility has been a historically relevant theme in mathematics and philosophy. Before we had the tools to physically show the mathematical nature of the infinite, philosophers speculated on what happens when a space was divided into infinite parts. Parmenides and Zeno created theories, and paradoxes to prove that infinite divisibility was so significant that the universe is in a constant, unchanging state, and using that to show that motion cannot exist. Aristotle and other philosophers

not depend on the mind (43). He then uses this idea as the basis for his second proof of God’s existence. Based upon the notion of a triangle, Descartes believes that “the existence of God ought to have … some degree of certainty that truths of mathematics” have (44). For Descartes there is no less a “contradiction in conceiving a supremely perfect being who lacks existence than there is in conceiving a triangle whose interior angles do not sum to 180°” (Oppy). Descartes again presumes (like he

Sara Simpson Final Paper Due: 12/06/2015 Professor Minglai Dong Descartes Third Meditation: Recommended Topic 2 Descartes’ third meditation on First Philosophy is all about the existence of God. There are many things that Descartes talks about in this meditation. His intentions are to create a set of proofs or arguments that will irrefutably prove God’s existence. He already believes that God exists but he is mainly trying to dispute the reasons why God might not exist or how God may be a deceiver

René Descartes (1596—1650) René Descartes is often credited with being the “Father of Modern Philosophy.” This title is justified due both to his break with the traditional Scholastic-Aristotelian philosophy prevalent at his time and to his development and promotion of the new, mechanistic sciences. His fundamental break with Scholastic philosophy was twofold. First, Descartes thought that the Scholastics’ method was prone to doubt given their reliance on sensation as the source for all knowledge

The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God The cosmological argument seeks to prove the existence of God by looking at the universe. It is an A posteriori proof based on experience and the observation of the world not logic so the outcome is probable or possible not definite. The argument is in three forms; motion, causation and being. These are also the first three ways in the five ways presented by Aquinas through which he believed