Le “problème†des mathématiques

Abstract

English title: The issue of mathematics.

This paper sustains that mathematics is a deep source of difficulties for philosophy of science in general. First, it is not easy for philosophy, while recognizing what it owes to mathematics, to locate itself with respect to it. Second, the main debate of philosophy of science – which opposes realism and something like projective rationalism – is governed by how we understand the role of mathematics. Third, we have to refer to mathematics in order to build a correct picture of informational revolution, even if mathematics could count as a reason for resisting that revolution.

In its last part, the paper explains all these difficulties as rooted in the exceptional way mathematics satisfies the demands of truth.