Knowledge, Cause, and Abstract Objects

C. Cheyne

ISBN 10: 1402000510 / ISBN 13: 9781402000515

Published by Springer Netherlands Okt 2001, 2001

About this Item

This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -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. 264 pp. Englisch.

Seller Inventory # 9781402000515

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Knowledge, Cause, and Abstract Objects
• Publisher: Springer Netherlands Okt 2001
• Publication Date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1402000510
• ISBN 13: 9781402000515
• Binding: Buch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 241W x 160H x 19D millimeters 241 millimeters width by 160 millimeters height by 19 millimeters depth
• Weight: 565 grams

About this title

Synopsis

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.