[MaFLa] invitation to a talk on`Cognition of the many and mathematical knowledge`

[Krisztina Biber]

The CEU Department of Philosophy cordially invites you to a talk 
by
Byeong-uk Yi (University of Toronto)
on
Cognition of the many and mathematical knowledge
 
Monday, 18 April 2016, 5.30 PM, Zrinyi 14, Room 412
 
ABSTRACT
 
In this talk, I will present a conception of natural numbers and clarify a source of knowledge of mathematics, in particular arithmetic.  In my view, natural numbers are properties of a special kind.  They are what I call plural properties, properties that in some sense pertain to the many as such.  The number two, for example, is the numerical property of being two, and this is a property instantiated by any two things albeit not by any one of them.  And we have empirical, and even perceptual, access to some of the numerical properties identified as natural numbers (e.g., being two or being three), just as we have empirical access to some colors or shapes.  We can see that the eggs in front of us are two, that the chairs over there are three, etc.  I will argue that this view of numbers, and of our cognitive access to them, yields a suitable response to the challenge to explain how we can have mathematical knowledge that dates back to Plato and has recently been forcefully presented by Paul Benacerraf.




Krisztina Biber
Department of Philosophy 
Coordinator
------------------------------------------

Central European University
Nador u. 9. | 1051 Budapest, Hungary
Office: + 36.1.327.3806 | biberk at ceu.hu | www.ceu.hu 
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