Quine, analyticity and philosophy of mathematics

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Quine correctly argues that Carnap's distinction between internal and external questions rests on a distinction between analytic and synthetic, which Quine rejects. I argue that Quine needs something like Carnap's distinction to enable him to explain the obviousness of elementary mathematics, while at the same time continuing to maintain as he does that the ultimate ground for holding mathematics to be a body of truths lies in the contribution that mathematics makes to our overall scientific theory of the world. Quine's arguments against the analytic/synthetic distinction, even if fully accepted, still leave room for a notion of pragmatic analyticity sufficient for the indicated purpose.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)38-55
Number of pages18
JournalPhilosophical Quarterly
Volume54
Issue number214
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2004

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Philosophy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Quine, analyticity and philosophy of mathematics'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this