Book | Chapter
Pretense theory
pp. 327-371
Abstract
Pretense theory construes mathematical sentences as prescribed to be imagined true, so that mathematics is a sort of make-believe. Using Kendall Walton's incisive theory of fiction as a springboard, the philosophies of mathematics of Mario Bunge and Mary Leng are exposited as representative of a pretense theoretical approach. This approach is defended against objections based on the obvious truth of mathematics and the disanalogy of mathematics to fiction. A pretense theoretical approach is found to be especially plausible for set theory, which may be taken as a foundation for all of mathematics.
Publication details
Published in:
Craig William Lane (2017) God and abstract objects: the coherence of theism: aseity. Dordrecht, Springer.
Pages: 327-371
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-55384-9_9
Full citation:
Craig William Lane (2017) Pretense theory, In: God and abstract objects, Dordrecht, Springer, 327–371.