Can indispensability-driven platonists be (serious) presentists?

Journal article

Baron, Sam. (2014). Can indispensability-driven platonists be (serious) presentists? Theoria. 80(2), pp. 153 - 173. https://doi.org/10.1111/theo.12031
AuthorsBaron, Sam
Abstract

In this article I consider what it would take to combine a certain kind of mathematical Platonism with serious presentism. I argue that a Platonist moved to accept the existence of mathematical objects on the basis of an indispensability argument faces a significant challenge if she wishes to accept presentism. This is because, on the one hand, the indispensability argument can be reformulated as a new argument for the existence of past entities and, on the other hand, if one accepts the indispensability argument for mathematical objects then it is hard to resist the analogous argument for the existence of the past.

Keywordsplatonism; presentism; nominalism; indispensability; ontology
Year2014
JournalTheoria
Journal citation80 (2), pp. 153 - 173
PublisherWiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
ISSN0040-5825
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/theo.12031
Scopus EID2-s2.0-84898803085
Page range153 - 173
Research GroupDianoia Institute of Philosophy
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Place of publicationSweden
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