Øystein Linnebo, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Oslo

Title: What is potentialism?

Aristotle famously claimed that the only coherent form of infinity is potential, not actual. However many objects there are, it is possible for there to be yet more; but it is impossible for there in fact to be infinitely many objects. Although this view was superseded by Cantor’s transfinite set theory, even Cantor regarded the collection of all sets as “unfinished” or incapable of “being together”. In recent years, there has been a revival of interest in potentialist approaches to the philosophy and foundations of mathematics. This talk is an attempt to clarify what potentialism is and is not, as well as to respond to some objections.

Organizers

Laboratory “Logic and Metaphysics” of the Research Centre for Greek Philosophy at the Academy of Athens.

Laboratory of Philosophy, Ethics, Policy and Communication of Science and Technology, Department of History and Philosophy of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.