Counterpossibles in Mathematical Practice: The Case of Spoof Perfect Numbers

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Alan Baker
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Practice ◽  
Perfect Numbers

Category Theory and Foundations

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Ernst
Keyword(s):  
Category Theory ◽  
Mathematical Thinking ◽  
Mathematical Practice ◽  
Foundations Of Mathematics ◽  
Ongoing Debate ◽  
Technical Adequacy ◽  
Theoretical Foundations

In the foundations of mathematics there has been an ongoing debate about whether categorical foundations can replace set-theoretical foundations. The primary goal of this chapter is to provide a condensed summary of that debate. It addresses the two primary points of contention: technical adequacy and autonomy. Finally, it calls attention to a neglected feature of the debate, the claim that categorical foundations are more natural and readily useable, and how deeper investigation of that claim could prove fruitful for our understanding of mathematical thinking and mathematical practice.

A Priority and Application: Philosophy of Mathematics in the Modern Period

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Shabel
Keyword(s):  
Early Modern ◽  
Mathematical Reasoning ◽  
Philosophy Of Mathematics ◽  
Mathematical Practice ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Pure Mathematics ◽  
Philosophical Account ◽  
Mathematical Ontology ◽  
To Come ◽  
Modern Mathematics

The state of modern mathematical practice called for a modern philosopher of mathematics to answer two interrelated questions. Given that mathematical ontology includes quantifiable empirical objects, how to explain the paradigmatic features of pure mathematical reasoning: universality, certainty, necessity. And, without giving up the special status of pure mathematical reasoning, how to explain the ability of pure mathematics to come into contact with and describe the empirically accessible natural world. The first question comes to a demand for apriority: a viable philosophical account of early modern mathematics must explain the apriority of mathematical reasoning. The second question comes to a demand for applicability: a viable philosophical account of early modern mathematics must explain the applicability of mathematical reasoning. This article begins by providing a brief account of a relevant aspect of early modern mathematical practice, in order to situate philosophers in their historical and mathematical context.

scholarly journals Social constructivism in mathematics? The promise and shortcomings of Julian Cole’s institutional account

Synthese ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenni Rytilä
Keyword(s):  
Social Constructivism ◽  
Mathematical Practice ◽  
Social Constructs ◽  
Socially Constructed ◽  
The Social ◽  
Characteristic Features ◽  
Core Idea ◽  
Social Entities ◽  
In Virtue Of ◽  
Mathematical Reality

AbstractThe core idea of social constructivism in mathematics is that mathematical entities are social constructs that exist in virtue of social practices, similar to more familiar social entities like institutions and money. Julian C. Cole has presented an institutional version of social constructivism about mathematics based on John Searle’s theory of the construction of the social reality. In this paper, I consider what merits social constructivism has and examine how well Cole’s institutional account meets the challenge of accounting for the characteristic features of mathematics, especially objectivity and applicability. I propose that in general social constructivism shows promise as an ontology of mathematics, because the view can agree with mathematical practice and it offers a way of understanding how mathematical entities can be real without conflicting with a scientific picture of reality. However, I argue that Cole’s specific theory does not provide an adequate social constructivist account of mathematics. His institutional account fails to sufficiently explain the objectivity and applicability of mathematics, because the explanations are weakened and limited by the three-level theoretical model underlying Cole’s account of the construction of mathematical reality and by the use of the Searlean institutional framework. The shortcomings of Cole’s theory give reason to suspect that the Searlean framework is not an optimal way to defend the view that mathematical reality is socially constructed.

Perfect Numbers

1910 ◽  
Vol 17 (8-9) ◽  
pp. 165-168
Author(s):  
T. M. Putnam
Keyword(s):  
Perfect Numbers

An Extension of the Results of Servais and Cramer on Odd Perfect and Odd Multiply Perfect Numbers

2003 ◽  
Vol 110 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer T. Betcher ◽  
John H. Jaroma
Keyword(s):  
Perfect Numbers

65.1 Even Perfect Numbers

1981 ◽  
Vol 65 (431) ◽  
pp. 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme L. Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Perfect Numbers

The Relationship Between Proof and Certainty in Mathematical Practice

2022 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-84
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Mathematical Practice ◽  
Advanced Mathematics ◽  
Mathematics Educators ◽  
The Relationship

Many mathematics educators believe a goal of instruction is for students to obtain conviction and certainty in mathematical statements using the same types of evidence that mathematicians do. However, few empirical studies have examined how mathematicians use proofs to obtain conviction and certainty. We report on a study in which 16 advanced mathematics doctoral students were given a task-based interview in which they were presented with various sources of evidence in support of a specific mathematical claim and were asked how convinced they were that the claim was true after reviewing this evidence. In particular, we explore why our participants retained doubts about our claim after reading its proof and how they used empirical evidence to reduce those doubts.

A lower bound for \tau(n) of any k-perfect numbers

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 99-103
Author(s):  
Keneth Adrian P. Dagal
Keyword(s):  
Lower Bound ◽  
Perfect Numbers

Pseudoperfect numbers with no small prime divisors

2009 ◽  
Vol 93 (528) ◽  
pp. 404-409
Author(s):  
Peter Shiu
Keyword(s):  
Difficult Problem ◽  
Prime Divisors ◽  
Perfect Number ◽  
Perfect Numbers ◽  
Mersenne Primes ◽  
Mersenne Prime

A perfect number is a number which is the sum of all its divisors except itself, the smallest such number being 6. By results due to Euclid and Euler, all the even perfect numbers are of the form 2P-1(2p - 1) where p and 2p - 1 are primes; the latter one is called a Mersenne prime. Whether there are infinitely many Mersenne primes is a notoriously difficult problem, as is the problem of whether there is an odd perfect number.

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