Empiricist Inspirations in Philosophy of Mathematics. Part I

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problem of mathematical empiricism: what could the phrase “to be a mathematical empiricist” possibly mean? There are many interpretations of this stance in philosophy of mathematics. The essay discusses relevant views of Mill, Berkeley, and Carnap. Some detailed questions concerning e.g. the applicability of mathematics, the status of mathematical proof, the status of mathematical axioms, are examined from the point of view of these philosophies.