Stephen Pollard

Philosophical Introduction to Set Theory - Dover Books on Mathematics Stephen Pollard First Edition, First edition

Jacket Description/Back: The primary mechanism for ideological and theoretical unification in modern mathematics, set theory forms an essential element of any comprehensive treatment of the philosophy of mathematics. This unique approach to set theory offers a technically informed discussion that covers a variety of philosophical issues. Rather than focusing on intuitionist and constructive alternatives to the Cantorian/Zermelian tradition, the author examines the two most important aspects of the current philosophy of mathematics, mathematical structuralism and mathematical applications of plural reference and plural quantification. Clearly written and frequently cited in the mathematical literature, this book is geared toward advanced undergraduates and graduate students of mathematics with some aptitude for mathematical reasoning and prior exposure to symbolic logic. Suitable as a source of supplementary readings in a course on set theory, it also functions as a primary text in a course on the philosophy of mathematics. Dover (2015) republication of the edition published by the University of Notre Dame Press, Notre Dame, Indiana, 1990. See every Dover book in print atwww.doverpublications.comMarc Notes: Originally published: Notre Dame, Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press, 1990.; Includes bibliographical references and index. Biographical Note: Stephen Pollard is Professor of Philosophy at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. In addition to "A Mathematical Prelude to the Philosophy of Mathematics, " he is co-translator of the Dover edition of Herman Weyl's "The Continuum."Brief Description: Originally published: Notre Dame, Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press, 1990. Publisher Marketing: The primary mechanism for ideological and theoretical unification in modern mathematics, set theory forms an essential element of any comprehensive treatment of the philosophy of mathematics. This unique approach to set theory offers a technically informed discussion that covers a variety of philosophical issues. Rather than focusing on intuitionist and constructive alternatives to the Cantorian/Zermelian tradition, the author examines the two most important aspects of the current philosophy of mathematics, mathematical structuralism and mathematical applications of plural reference and plural quantification. Clearly written and frequently cited in the mathematical literature, this book is geared toward advanced undergraduates and graduate students of mathematics with some aptitude for mathematical reasoning and prior exposure to symbolic logic. Suitable as a source of supplementary readings in a course on set theory, it also functions as a primary text in a course on the philosophy of mathematics.

Contributor Bio:  Pollard, Stephen Stephen Pollard is currently Editor of the Jewish Chronicle and has written columns for several publications including The Times and the Daily Mail and maintained a lively Spectator blog. He is also the author of the controversial 2004 biography of David Blunkett, and co-authored A Class Act: The Myth of Britain's Classless Society, which was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize.