Logicism (Noun)
Meaning
(philosophy) the philosophical theory that all of mathematics can be derived from formal logic.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The philosopher argued that logicism was the key to understanding the fundamental nature of mathematics and its relationship to reality.
- Logicism, as proposed by Bertrand Russell and Gottlob Frege, sought to establish that mathematical truths could be deduced from logical principles alone.
- The development of modern logicism was heavily influenced by the work of 19th-century mathematicians who sought to formalize mathematical thought.
- Some critics argued that logicism was too narrow in its focus, failing to account for the creative and intuitive aspects of mathematical discovery.
- Despite the challenges it faced, logicism remained a major philosophical movement in the early 20th century, shaping the way mathematicians and philosophers thought about the foundations of mathematics.