Table of Contents

I. The Philosophical Background
1. What is Conventionalism
2. Linguistic Conventions

II. Revitalizing Logical Conventionalism
3. Unrestricted Logical Inferentialism
4. Logical Conventionalism
5. Alternative Conventions, Alternative Logics
6. The Epistemology of Logic
7. The Very Idea of Truth by Convention

III. Revitalizing Mathematical Conventionalism
8. From Logic to Mathematics
9. Metaontology, Existence, and Reference
10. Mathematical Determinacy
11. Truth, Paradoxes, Freedom, Applications, and Knowledge
12. Metamathematics versus Conventionalism

IV. Reflections
13. Old Slogans, New Dogmas
14. The Facts of the Matter

About the Author

Jared Warren is Assistant Professor of philosophy at Stanford University. He has published papers in metaphysics, epistemology, mind and language, metaphilosophy, and the philosophy of logic and mathematics.

Reviews

Philosophers of science, mathematics, and logic, including those educated to regard conventionalism as an early-20th-century curiosity, need to add this groundbreaking work to their reading lists. Summing Up: Essential. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty.
*L. C. Archie, CHOICE*

Conventionalism about mathematics claims the same for mathematical truth. Conventionalism was popular among the logical positivists, with Carnap...His outstanding new book, Shadows of Syntax, builds upon these articles to provide the most sophisticated development of the conventionalist viewpoint that I have seen. Warren wrestles throughout with Quine's criticisms, contending that they are not nearly as powerful as is commonly supposed. Written in lucid, vibrant prose, this consistently gripping book offers numerous meaty arguments and ingenious gambits that merit sustained reflection...Shadows of Syntax is one of the most thought-provoking books that I have read in a long time. You should grapple with it yourself. You may come away more persuaded than I was. You will surely find it stimulating.
*Michael Rescorla, History and Philosophy of Logic*