Kurs
Philosophy of Mathametics - 4 ECTS
This course aims to provide a basic understanding of selected Mathematical concepts that many branches of science relies on.
Topics
- Thales of Miletus: Pre and post Socratic area
- Four schools of thought: Logicism, Intuitionism, Formalism, Predicativism
- Platonism: Gödel’s Platonism, Quine and Colyvan: Naturalism and Indispensability, Tait’s Deflating Platonism, Benacerraf’s Epistemological Problem, Plenitudinous Platonism
- Selected topics of discussion: Formalists vs Platonists: Origins of theory of knowledge, Aristotle's metaphysics and philosophy of science, Allegory of the cave: Plato vs Kant, Frege and Russell take on Geometry and Arithmetic.
- Paradoxes from Zeno of Elia to Russell
- Gödel Incompleteness Theorem
- Wittgenstein: What is logic?
Target group and learning outcomes
The structure of the course is designed for PhD candidates. Yet I am certain that prospective MSc students would benefit from it. After
successful completion of this course, participants are expected to be able to:
- Connect the philosophical foundations with mathematical advancements
- Bridge the gap between pre and post Socratic area
- Analyse 4 schools of thought
- Analyse Platonism in detail
- Analyse Aristotle's metaphysics
- Connect Frege’s and Russell’s take on Geometry and Arithmetic
- Analyse Gödel and Wittgenstein’s theories on logic.
Assumed prior knowledge
High school mathematics
Schedule
Session 1 | 10 May, 10.00-12.00 hrs | Lecture |
Session 2 | 17 May, 10.00-12.00 hrs | Lecture |
Session 3 | 24 May, 10.00-12.00 hrs | Lecture |
Session 4 | 31 May, 10.00-12.00 hrs | Lecture |
Session 5 | 7 June, 10.00-12.00 hrs | Lecture |
Session 6 | 14 June, 10.00-12.00 hrs | Lecture |
Session 7 | 21 June, 10.00-12.00 hrs | Exam |
Activities
Lectures, reading, flipped classroom discussions
Course fee
WGS PhDs with TSP | € 300 |
a) All other PhD candidates b) Postdocs and staff of the above mentioned Graduate Schools | € 600 |
All others | € 900 |
Fee includes coffee/tea, and course materials.