Scheduled events are published here.

Truth and Proof: the Platonism in Mathematics

The PhiMath reading group is back for the academic year 2025/2026! We kick off with William Tait’s compelling exposition of the tension between Truth and Proof in Mathematics. Are mathematical proofs constructed or discovered by means of a proof? In the decade-long debate between constructivist and platonists, Tait defends Platonism by attacking some of Dummett’s main claims in favour of intuitionism. By adopting a similar approach towards the relaionship between language and reality as Dummet’s, he aims to downsize the accusations intuitionists wage against mathematical realists, arguing that proofs are merely representations of mathematical truth. The issues Tait brings up in this paper are extremely engaging for Intuitionists and Platonists alike, so come plenty and take part in the discussion!