Books by Penelope (Professor of Philosophy Maddy

Naturalism in Mathematics investigates how the most fundamental assumptions of mathematics can be justified. One prevalent philosophical approach to the problem-realism-is examined and rejected in favour of another approach-naturalism. Penelope Maddy defines naturalism, explains the motivation for it, and shows how it can be successfully applied in set theory.

This monograph develops and defends a novel version of mathematical realism - the view that to engage in mathematics is to investigate the features of real mathematical things - and refocuses philosophical attention on the pressing foundational issues of contemporary mathematics.