Proofs, computers, and the a priori: Is there anything to fix?

This paper aims to answer several epistemological questions raised by the use of computers in mathematical practice; for this purpose, it uses the template for a conceptual engineering project proposed in Isaac, Koch, and Nedft 2022. Some interesting theoretical questions raised by this change in th...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Metaphilosophy Vol. 56; no. 3; pp. 312 - 328
Autor principal: Martínez‐Vidal, Concha
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Jul2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=187745239&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: hlh
    uiTerm: 187745239
    longDbName: Humanities International Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        00261068
        9OM
      jtl: Metaphilosophy
      issn: 00261068
      maglogo: Y
    pubinfo:
      dt: Jul2025
      vid: 56
      iid: 3
      pid: 480
      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
    artinfo:
      ui:
        187745239
        10.1111/meta.70006
      ppf: 312
      ppct: 16
      formats:
        fmt:
          – @attributes:
              type: T
          – @attributes:
              type: P
              size: 215KB
      tig:
        atl: Proofs, computers, and the a priori: Is there anything to fix?
      aug:
        au: Martínez‐Vidal, Concha
        affil: Department of Philosophy and Anthropology, University of Santiago de Compostela, , Spain
      su:
        A priori
        Computers
        Argument
        Theory of knowledge
        Mathematics
        Conceptual design
        Research methodology
        Trust
      sug:
        subj:
          A priori
          Computers
          Argument
          Theory of knowledge
          Mathematics
          Conceptual design
          Research methodology
          Trust
      keyword:
        conceptual engineering
        mathematical practice
        proof
        Tymozcko
      ab: This paper aims to answer several epistemological questions raised by the use of computers in mathematical practice; for this purpose, it uses the template for a conceptual engineering project proposed in Isaac, Koch, and Nedft 2022. Some interesting theoretical questions raised by this change in the methodology of mathematics are whether proofs continue to be accessible to human mathematicians, whether computers are reliable and therefore should be trusted by mathematicians, and whether proof is still an a priori methodology even though the use of computers is essential for some of them. The paper begins by introducing the project, which is to assess the "functionality" of the notion of proof and apriority in relation to the novelty that the use of computers in proof has brought to mathematical practice. The paper suggests that there has been a development of the methodology that conveys an "improvement of the functionality" and enforces reasons to adopt a certain notion of apriority.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
    refInfo:
    copyright:
      @attributes:
        flag: Y
      custom: Copyright of Metaphilosophy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
      item: Metaphilosophy
      holder: Wiley-Blackwell
      dt:
        @attributes:
          year: 2025
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N