The Early Hilbert’s Ontology of Mathematics

Authors

  • Jerzy Dadaczyński Pontifical University of John Paul II

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14394/filnau.2018.0025

Keywords:

David Hilbert, ontology of mathematics, foundations of mathematics, conceptualism, constructivism

Abstract

Hilbert’s views on the ontology of mathematics changed significantly between 1891 and 1904. Although his contributions to the foundations of mathematics in the years 1899-1904 paved the way for his later program of formalism, in the ontology of mathematics he was then still far from methodological nominalism associated with his mature formalism. Paradoxically, Hilbert’s original position in the ontology of mathematics (from 1891) was that of conceptualism combined
with constructivism. These two views were the philosophical basis for Brouwer’s intuitionist attacks on Hilbert’s account of the foundations of mathematics in the 1920s.

References

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Hilbert D. (1899/1968), Grundlagen der Geometrie, Stuttgart: Teubner.
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Hilbert D. (1900b), Mathematische Probleme, "Nachrichten von der Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen. Mathematisch-Physikalische Klasse" 3, 253-297.
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Published

2018-12-31

How to Cite

Dadaczyński, J. (2018). The Early Hilbert’s Ontology of Mathematics. The Philosophy of Science, 26(4), 75–88. https://doi.org/10.14394/filnau.2018.0025