The Mathematical in Heidegger and Badiou

This work traces the historical development of
subjectivity from its skeptical foundation in
Descartes to Alain Badiou s subject as fidelity to
truth. Heidegger criticizes modernity, defined as
the merging of the metaphysical and the
mathematical, for apprehending the relationship
between man and world in only one way, as
things. I hope show that this development does not
derive from the mathematical alone, but from
the project of objects against an objective
background secured in an I-pole, further advanced by
Kant s transcendental reflection of the
thing-in-itself over this project. I do this by following
Alain Badiou s assessment of Zermelo-Fraenkel s
axiomatic set theory, a particular mathematical model
that self-destructs, meaning it cannot become
absolute or dogmatic. If we can dissociate in our
ordinary language claims that utilize transcendental
reasoning from claims concerning mathematical
projection based on speculation alone, perhaps we
might find some basis to make existential claims
independent of perspective, or subjectivism.

Autorentext

Dylan Wade was born in Athens, Georgia, in 1984. He moved toBaton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1987 and has remained in the areasince. He received his Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from TulaneUniversity in 2006, and his Master of Arts from Louisiana StateUniversity in 2008.

Klappentext

This work traces the historical development ofsubjectivity from its skeptical foundation inDescartes to Alain Badiou's subject as fidelity totruth. Heidegger criticizes modernity, defined asthe merging of the metaphysical and themathematical, for apprehending the relationshipbetween man and world in only one way, asthings. I hope show that this development does notderive from the mathematical alone, but fromthe project of objects against an objectivebackground secured in an I-pole, further advanced byKant's transcendental reflection of thething-in-itself over this project. I do this by followingAlain Badiou's assessment of Zermelo-Fraenkel'saxiomatic set theory, a particular mathematical modelthat self-destructs, meaning it cannot becomeabsolute or dogmatic. If we can dissociate in ourordinary language claims that utilize transcendentalreasoning from claims concerning mathematicalprojection based on speculation alone, perhaps wemight find some basis to make existential claimsindependent of perspective, or subjectivism.