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Can there be an alternative mathematics, really?

Jean Paul Van Bendegen

pp. 349-359

Abstract

David Bloor, already in 1976, asked the question whether an alternative mathematics is possible. Although he presented a number of examples, I do not consider these really convincing. To support Bloor's view I present three examples that to my mind should be considered as genuine alternative: (a) vague mathematics, i. e., a mathematics wherein notions such as 'small", "large" and "few" can be used, (b) random mathematics where mathematics consists (almost) solely of a practice, and (c) a mathematics where infinitesimals can be used without any problem, on the assumption that one is willing to work with local models only and to resist looking for global models. Finally, I argue that these examples support Otte's thesis that an ontology is constituted by a practice and not vice-versa.

Publication details

Published in:

Hoffmann Michael H. G. , Lenhard Johannes, Seeger Falk (2005) Activity and sign: grounding mathematics education. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 349-359

DOI: 10.1007/0-387-24270-8_30

Full citation:

Van Bendegen Jean Paul (2005) „Can there be an alternative mathematics, really?“, In: M. H. Hoffmann, J. Lenhard & F. Seeger (eds.), Activity and sign, Dordrecht, Springer, 349–359.