Badiou and the Ontological Limits of Mathematics

Authors

  • Michael Hauser Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3986/fv.41.2.05

Keywords:

metaontology, the real, ontology, Badiou, Easton’s theorem

Abstract

I propose to depict the relationship between Badiou’s philosophy and mathematics as a three-layered model. Philosophy as metaontology creates a metastructure, mathematics as ontology in the form of a condition of philosophy constitutes its situation, and mathematics as a multiple universe of all given axioms, theorems, techniques, interpretations, and systems (set theory, category theory, etc.) is an inconsistent multiplicity. So, we can interpret the relationship between philosophy and mathematics as the one between a metastructure and a situation. By using Easton’s theorem, we come to realise that philosophical concepts in the metastructure “quantitatively” exceed the elements that belong to mathematics as ontology. Therefore, philosophy as metaontology shows the limits of mathematics as ontology.

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References

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Published

2020-12-31

How to Cite

Hauser, M. (2020). Badiou and the Ontological Limits of Mathematics. Filozofski Vestnik, 41(2). https://doi.org/10.3986/fv.41.2.05

Issue

Section

The Set-theoretical Model under Discussion