The Calgary Mathematics & Philosophy Lectures

PATRICIA BLANCHETTE

Professor of Philosophy and Glynn Family Honors Collegiate Chair,University of Notre Dame

THE CASE OF THE PARALLELS POSTULATE

GEOMETRY, LOGIC, AND PHILOSOPHY

One of the most important techniques provided by modern logic is the use

of models to show the consistency of theories. The technique burst onto

the scene in the late 19th century, and had its most important early instance

in demonstrating the consistency of non-Euclidean geometries. This talk

investigates the development of that technique as it transitions from a geometric

tool to an all-purpose tool of logic. Prof. Blanchette argues that the standard

narrative, according to which our modern technique provides answers to

centuries-old questions, is mistaken. Once we understand how modern models

work, she’ll argue, we see important dif erences between the kinds of consistency

claims that would have made sense, e.g., to Kant and the kinds of consistency

claims that we can demonstrate today. We’ll also see some philosophically

interesting shifts, over this time period, in the kinds of things that we take

proofs to demonstrate.

THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021

3:30-5:00PM | VIA ZOOM

In partnership with:Sponsored by:

Free & Open to the Public

Register at: https://go.ucalgary.ca/Math-Phil-2021Lecture_LPRegistration.html

ucalgary.ca/mathphil