Mathematical Truth and Knowledge

Description: Mathematical Truth and Knowledge Quiz
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: philosophy of mathematics mathematical truth mathematical knowledge
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Which of the following is NOT a common view of mathematical truth?

  1. Mathematical truth is objective and independent of human minds.

  2. Mathematical truth is subjective and depends on the individual's beliefs.

  3. Mathematical truth is discovered through logical reasoning and proof.

  4. Mathematical truth is revealed through divine inspiration.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Mathematical truth is generally considered to be objective and independent of human minds, discovered through logical reasoning and proof, not revealed through divine inspiration.

What is the name of the philosophical theory that states that mathematical objects exist independently of the human mind?

  1. Platonism

  2. Formalism

  3. Intuitionism

  4. Constructivism


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Platonism is the philosophical theory that states that mathematical objects exist independently of the human mind.

Which of the following is NOT a common objection to Platonism?

  1. Mathematical objects are abstract and cannot exist in the physical world.

  2. Mathematical objects are not accessible to our senses.

  3. Mathematical objects are not created by the human mind.

  4. Mathematical objects are not subject to change.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Mathematical objects are generally considered to be abstract and not accessible to our senses, not created by the human mind, and subject to change.

What is the name of the philosophical theory that states that mathematical truth is discovered through logical reasoning and proof?

  1. Formalism

  2. Intuitionism

  3. Constructivism

  4. Empiricism


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Formalism is the philosophical theory that states that mathematical truth is discovered through logical reasoning and proof.

Which of the following is NOT a common objection to Formalism?

  1. Formalism reduces mathematics to a game of symbols.

  2. Formalism ignores the role of intuition in mathematical discovery.

  3. Formalism cannot account for the creativity and beauty of mathematics.

  4. Formalism is too abstract and divorced from the real world.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Formalism is generally criticized for reducing mathematics to a game of symbols, ignoring the role of intuition in mathematical discovery, and not being able to account for the creativity and beauty of mathematics, not for being too abstract and divorced from the real world.

What is the name of the philosophical theory that states that mathematical knowledge is constructed by the human mind?

  1. Intuitionism

  2. Constructivism

  3. Empiricism

  4. Pragmatism


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Constructivism is the philosophical theory that states that mathematical knowledge is constructed by the human mind.

Which of the following is NOT a common objection to Constructivism?

  1. Constructivism makes mathematics subjective and dependent on the individual's beliefs.

  2. Constructivism cannot account for the objectivity and universality of mathematical truth.

  3. Constructivism is too narrow and does not allow for the possibility of mathematical discovery.

  4. Constructivism is too abstract and divorced from the real world.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Constructivism is generally criticized for making mathematics subjective and dependent on the individual's beliefs, not being able to account for the objectivity and universality of mathematical truth, and being too narrow and not allowing for the possibility of mathematical discovery, not for being too abstract and divorced from the real world.

Which of the following is NOT a common view of mathematical knowledge?

  1. Mathematical knowledge is a priori and independent of experience.

  2. Mathematical knowledge is a posteriori and derived from experience.

  3. Mathematical knowledge is synthetic and extends our knowledge of the world.

  4. Mathematical knowledge is analytic and does not extend our knowledge of the world.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Mathematical knowledge is generally considered to be a priori and independent of experience, synthetic and extending our knowledge of the world, not a posteriori and derived from experience.

What is the name of the philosophical theory that states that mathematical knowledge is synthetic and extends our knowledge of the world?

  1. Empiricism

  2. Rationalism

  3. Kantianism

  4. Hegelianism


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Kantianism is the philosophical theory that states that mathematical knowledge is synthetic and extends our knowledge of the world.

Which of the following is NOT a common objection to Kantianism?

  1. Kantianism makes mathematics too subjective and dependent on the individual's mind.

  2. Kantianism cannot account for the objectivity and universality of mathematical truth.

  3. Kantianism is too abstract and divorced from the real world.

  4. Kantianism is too narrow and does not allow for the possibility of mathematical discovery.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Kantianism is generally criticized for making mathematics too subjective and dependent on the individual's mind, not being able to account for the objectivity and universality of mathematical truth, and being too abstract and divorced from the real world, not for being too narrow and not allowing for the possibility of mathematical discovery.

Which of the following is NOT a common view of the relationship between mathematics and the real world?

  1. Mathematics is a tool for describing and understanding the real world.

  2. Mathematics is a language for expressing abstract ideas.

  3. Mathematics is a game played with symbols.

  4. Mathematics is a self-contained system with no connection to the real world.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Mathematics is generally considered to be a tool for describing and understanding the real world, a language for expressing abstract ideas, and a game played with symbols, not a self-contained system with no connection to the real world.

What is the name of the philosophical theory that states that mathematics is a self-contained system with no connection to the real world?

  1. Formalism

  2. Intuitionism

  3. Constructivism

  4. Platonism


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Formalism is the philosophical theory that states that mathematics is a self-contained system with no connection to the real world.

Which of the following is NOT a common objection to Formalism?

  1. Formalism makes mathematics too abstract and divorced from the real world.

  2. Formalism ignores the role of intuition in mathematical discovery.

  3. Formalism cannot account for the creativity and beauty of mathematics.

  4. Formalism is too narrow and does not allow for the possibility of mathematical discovery.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Formalism is generally criticized for making mathematics too abstract and divorced from the real world, ignoring the role of intuition in mathematical discovery, and not being able to account for the creativity and beauty of mathematics, not for being too narrow and not allowing for the possibility of mathematical discovery.

Which of the following is NOT a common view of the nature of mathematical proof?

  1. Mathematical proof is a logical argument that demonstrates the truth of a mathematical statement.

  2. Mathematical proof is a formal demonstration that a mathematical statement is true.

  3. Mathematical proof is a convincing argument that a mathematical statement is true.

  4. Mathematical proof is a process of discovering new mathematical knowledge.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Mathematical proof is generally considered to be a logical argument that demonstrates the truth of a mathematical statement, a formal demonstration that a mathematical statement is true, and a convincing argument that a mathematical statement is true, not a process of discovering new mathematical knowledge.

What is the name of the philosophical theory that states that mathematical proof is a process of discovering new mathematical knowledge?

  1. Intuitionism

  2. Constructivism

  3. Empiricism

  4. Rationalism


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Intuitionism is the philosophical theory that states that mathematical proof is a process of discovering new mathematical knowledge.

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