Thought Experiments in Mathematics: From Fiction to Facts

Irina Starikova
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Irina Starikova: UFMG

A chapter in Handbook of the History and Philosophy of Mathematical Practice, 2024, pp 2523-2550 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract As in science and philosophy, thought experiments in mathematics link a problem to new epistemic resources that are unavailable in a given practice, e.g., Euclidean geometry. Thought experiments invite us to perform an imaginary scenario involving counterfactual, deductive and sensory elements. This chapter aims to pinpoint the beneficial peculiarities of thought experiments in mathematics in comparison with inferences, diagrams and calculative procedures. Reflection about thought experiments assists us to realize both the limits and opportunities in mathematical thinking. Henceforth, the analysis of examples suggests a broader understanding of mathematical, thought and experiment.

Keywords: Thought experiments; Mathematical experimenting; Picture proofs; Sensory imagination; Mathematical practice; Informal proofs; Mathematical intuition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-40846-5_45

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