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Saving proof from paradox: Gödel’s paradox and the inconsistency of informal mathematics
In this paper I shall consider two related avenues of argument that have been used to make the case for the inconsistency of mathematics: firstly, Gödel’s paradox which leads to a contradiction within mathematics and, secondly, the incompatibility of completeness and consistency established by Gödel...
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| Format: | Default Book chapter |
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2016
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/2134/9589094.v1 |
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| _version_ | 1818168138111385600 |
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| author | Fenner Tanswell |
| author_facet | Fenner Tanswell |
| author_sort | Fenner Tanswell (5731730) |
| collection | Figshare |
| description | In this paper I shall consider two related avenues of argument that have been used to make the case for the inconsistency of mathematics: firstly, Gödel’s paradox which leads to a contradiction within mathematics and, secondly, the incompatibility of completeness and consistency established by Gödel’s incompleteness theorems. By bringing in considerations from the philosophy of mathematical practice on informal proofs, I suggest that we should add to the two axes of completeness and consistency a third axis of formality and informality. I use this perspective to respond to the arguments for the inconsistency of mathematics made by Beall and Priest, presenting problems with the assumptions needed concerning formalisation, the unity of informal mathematics and the relation between the formal and informal. |
| format | Default Book chapter |
| id | rr-article-9589094 |
| institution | Loughborough University |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| record_format | Figshare |
| spelling | rr-article-95890942016-12-03T00:00:00Z Saving proof from paradox: Gödel’s paradox and the inconsistency of informal mathematics Fenner Tanswell (5731730) Formal system Formal language Mathematical reasoning Mathematical practice Incompleteness theorem In this paper I shall consider two related avenues of argument that have been used to make the case for the inconsistency of mathematics: firstly, Gödel’s paradox which leads to a contradiction within mathematics and, secondly, the incompatibility of completeness and consistency established by Gödel’s incompleteness theorems. By bringing in considerations from the philosophy of mathematical practice on informal proofs, I suggest that we should add to the two axes of completeness and consistency a third axis of formality and informality. I use this perspective to respond to the arguments for the inconsistency of mathematics made by Beall and Priest, presenting problems with the assumptions needed concerning formalisation, the unity of informal mathematics and the relation between the formal and informal. 2016-12-03T00:00:00Z Text Chapter 2134/9589094.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/chapter/Saving_proof_from_paradox_G_del_s_paradox_and_the_inconsistency_of_informal_mathematics/9589094 CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 |
| spellingShingle | Formal system Formal language Mathematical reasoning Mathematical practice Incompleteness theorem Fenner Tanswell Saving proof from paradox: Gödel’s paradox and the inconsistency of informal mathematics |
| title | Saving proof from paradox: Gödel’s paradox and the inconsistency of informal mathematics |
| title_full | Saving proof from paradox: Gödel’s paradox and the inconsistency of informal mathematics |
| title_fullStr | Saving proof from paradox: Gödel’s paradox and the inconsistency of informal mathematics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Saving proof from paradox: Gödel’s paradox and the inconsistency of informal mathematics |
| title_short | Saving proof from paradox: Gödel’s paradox and the inconsistency of informal mathematics |
| title_sort | saving proof from paradox: gödel’s paradox and the inconsistency of informal mathematics |
| topic | Formal system Formal language Mathematical reasoning Mathematical practice Incompleteness theorem |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/2134/9589094.v1 |