THE PHENOMENON OF NUMBER FROM THE LENS OF PSYCHOLOGISM: CAN WE CLAIM THAT NUMBERS ARE BEING “MADE UP”?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5840/eps202562111Keywords:
mathematics, number, psychologism, I. Hacking, culture, subitization, language, conceptual metaphorAbstract
The article explores the genesis and nature of number from the perspective of psychologism, an epistemological trend. It formulates a series of questions aimed at reexamining our understanding of number: What is the mode of existence of number? In what forms or formations does number exist, and what reality serves as its natural “carrier”? Is it justified, following realism, to regard number as an entity independent of human beings? What reasoning challenges the human-independent status of number – a stance embraced by many successful mathematicians – given that this status overlooks key questions about the nature of number? To what extent can it be argued that the phenomenon of number is shaped, among other factors, by the mental and bodily organization of humans, as well as by the cultural characteristics of society? The article draws on recent research in cultural and social neuroscience, which supports the relevance of psychologism as a framework for addressing many questions in the philosophy of mathematics. It also engages with Ian Hacking’s idea of “making up reality” to further illuminate the discussion. Ultimately, the nature and origin of number are defined as abstract mental constructions arising from human cognitive activity. These constructions emerge and are effectively utilized through the interaction and representational procedures of diverse elements and traits within a given cognitive system.
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