Categories for the working mathematician: making the impossible possible (Q928741)

The paper is devoted to the discussion of the concept of necessity in mathematics. Two such concepts are distinguished: one describing necessity in terms of ``unchangeable properties of unchangeable objects'' and one describing it as ``intrinsic structural properties following from formal definitions''. It is argued that the former concept is inadequate -- this is done by case study (hence the paper can be classified as belonging to the practice oriented philosophy of mathematics). It is also claimed that the second description of necessity is the ultimate goal of mathematics (though it does not capture all of mathematical practice).