Readership: Philosophers, mathematicians, and logicians.
Penelope Maddy, Professor of Philosophy, University of California, Irvine, USA
"Winner of the Lakatos Award 2002"
PART I: THE PROBLEM 1: The origins of set theory 2: Set theory as a foundation 3: The standard axioms 4: Independent questions 5: New axiom candidates 6: V = L PART II: REALISM 1: Godelian realism 2: Quinean realism 3: Set-theoretic realism 4: A realist's case against V = L 5: Hints of trouble 6: Indispensability and scientific practice 7: Indispensability and mathematical practic PART III: NATURALISM 1: Wittgensteinian anti-philosophy 2: A second Godelian theme 3: Quinean naturalism 4: Mathematical naturalism 5: The problem revisited 6: A naturalist's case against V = L Conclusion Bibliography Index
