Central and East European
Society for Phenomenology

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176455

Brouwerian infinity

Carl J Posy

pp. 21-36

Abstract

Brouwer believed that we humans build the objects of mathematics, and thus he held that those objects are things that we finite beings can intuitively grasp. This was a problem, for mathematics is inherently infinitary (by his time infinite processes, Cantorian higher infinities and a thoroughly infinitary conception of the continuum were already at center stage), but infinite entities and infinite processes exceed our finite grasp. This dilemma — to balance infinity and human intuition — defined Brouwer's intuitionistic career.

Publication details

Published in:

Boldini Pascal, Bourdeau Michel, Heinzmann Gerhard (2008) One hundred years of intuitionism (1907–2007): the Cerisy conference. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 21-36

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-7643-8653-5_2

Full citation:

Posy Carl J (2008) „Brouwerian infinity“, In: P. Boldini, M. Bourdeau & G. Heinzmann (eds.), One hundred years of intuitionism (1907–2007), Dordrecht, Springer, 21–36.