Atlas of Mathematical Objects

Re:Atlas of Mathematical Objects by dogecoinbase on Tuesday May 10, 2016 @07:35PM (#11671538)

This is actually a surprisingly complex question in mathematical philosophy -- I unfortunately can't find a copy online right now, but if the idea of mathematical objects interests you I'd highly recommend Paul Benacerraf's 1965 paper "What Numbers Cannot Be", which explores the complexity of the idea of even a single integer as an "object".

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Atlas of Mathematical Objects by Cogito on Tuesday May 10, 2016 @10:15PM (#11672193)

For those interested, the article is actually called "What Numbers Could not Be" (many references have "What Numbers Cannot Be" so maybe it was published under both names at some point?)

There is a copy at:

http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic1240846.files/Ben...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Atlas of Mathematical Objects by dogecoinbase on Tuesday May 24, 2016 @01:55PM (#11763893)

Thank you! I just checked my copy of Cambridge's Philosophy of Mathematics and it is indeed "could not" -- the PDF I have on my laptop, however, is "cannot". I wonder when/where that happened.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Atlas of Mathematical Objects by grandalf on Wednesday May 11, 2016 @01:11PM (#11677126)

Thanks for posting that!

[ Parent | on HN ]