On the concept of finitism
pp. 2413-2436
Abstract
At the most general level, the concept of finitism is typically characterized by saying that finitistic mathematics is that part of mathematics which does not appeal to completed infinite totalities and is endowed with some epistemological property that makes it secure or privileged. This paper argues that this characterization can in fact be sharpened in various ways, giving rise to different conceptions of finitism. The paper investigates these conceptions and shows that they sanction different portions of mathematics as finitistic.
Publication details
Published in:
(2015) History and philosophy of infinity. Synthese 192 (8).
Pages: 2413-2436
DOI: 10.1007/s11229-014-0639-3
Full citation:
Incurvati Luca (2015) „On the concept of finitism“. Synthese 192 (8), 2413–2436.