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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

A Defense of Arithmetical Platonism (Variations on a Theme by Kitcher)

Abstract

dc:description

In The Nature of Mathematical Knowledge (1984) Philip Kitcher develops an exciting and insightful picture of arithmetical reality by considering mathematical activities--not objects--as ontologically primitive. Yet, his account goes astray because of his nominalistic interpretation of the properties of human activity, resulting in an implausible modal view of the truth of arithmetical statements.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ph.D.
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Philosophy
Grantor
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Year dc:date
2014

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Norton-Smith, Thomas Michael
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Wagner, Steven J.

Subjects

dc:subject × 2

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Identifier
(UMI)AAI8823216
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/71566

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
Base URL
www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Norton-Smith, Thomas Michael. A Defense of Arithmetical Platonism (Variations on a Theme by Kitcher). Dissertation thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2142/71566