ABSTRACT
Absolutism and constructivism differ in fundamental ways, but authors argue that both tend to neglect the influence of empirical considerations on the formation and development of mathematics. Furthermore, both tend not to acknowledge the functional nature of mathematics, instead focusing on its structural elements. Mathematics is a discipline that has been largely untouched by the Darwinian revolution. In essence, it is a last bastion of certainty. Dennett places two things beyond the pale of natural selection: the laws of physics and logic/mathematics. Kitcher’s inattention to everyday social practicalities is at least partly due to his rigid understanding of rationality. Kitcher’s reliance on Mill leads to an account of the empirical origins that does not sufficiently recognize the functional role of mathematics in human activity.
