According to platonists, entities such as numbers, sets, propositions and properties are abstract objects. But abstract objects lack causal powers and a location in space and time, so how could we ever come to know of the existence of such impotent and remote objects? In Knowledge, Cause, and Abstract Objects, Colin Cheyne presents the first systematic and detailed account of this epistemological objection to the platonist doctrine that abstract objects exist and can be known. Since mathematics has such a central role in the acquisition of scientific knowledge, he concentrates on mathematical platonism. He also concentrates on our knowledge of what exists, and argues for a causal constraint on such existential knowledge. Finally, he exposes the weaknesses of recent attempts by platonists to account for our supposed platonic knowledge.
This book will be of particular interest to researchers and advanced students of epistemology and of the philosophy of mathematics and science. It will also be of interest to all philosophers with a general interest in metaphysics and ontology.

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Authors and Affiliations

University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Colin Cheyne

Bibliographic Information

Book Title: Knowledge, Cause, and Abstract Objects
Book Subtitle: Causal Objections to Platonism
Authors: Colin Cheyne
Series Title: The Western Ontario Series in Philosophy of Science
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9747-0
Publisher: Springer Dordrecht
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive
Copyright Information: Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2001
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4020-0051-5Published: 31 October 2001
Softcover ISBN: 978-90-481-5836-2Published: 28 October 2010
eBook ISBN: 978-94-015-9747-0Published: 14 March 2013
Series ISSN: 1566-659X
Series E-ISSN: 2215-1974
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XVIII, 240
Topics: Philosophy of Law, Epistemology, Ontology, Philosophy of Science, Metaphysics

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Table of contents (13 chapters)

Front Matter

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