ABSTRACT

First published in 1971, Professor Putnam's essay concerns itself with the ontological problem in the philosophy of logic and mathematics - that is, the issue of whether the abstract entities spoken of in logic and mathematics really exist. He also deals with the question of whether or not reference to these abstract entities is really indispensible in logic and whether it is necessary in physical science in general.

chapter I|5 pages

What Logic Is

chapter II|15 pages

The Nominalism-Realism Issue

chapter III|8 pages

The Nominalism-Realism Issue and Logic

chapter IV|2 pages

Logic vs. Mathematics

chapter V|9 pages

The Inadequacy of Nominalistic Language

chapter VIII|18 pages

Indispensability Arguments

chapter IX|2 pages

Unconsidered Complications