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  "body": "\n## Summary\n\nFormalism is the view that mathematics is about formal systems: strings of symbols and the rules that transform them.\nOn this view, a theorem is a string derived from the axioms by the rules.\nIt need not describe any abstract objects.\nDavid Hilbert is the name most linked with formalism, through [[Hilbert's program|P1RW6JWX73]].\nIt is one of the classical answers in the [[foundations of mathematics|EFFRJFW67Y]].\n\n## Explanations\n\n### L1 human\n\nThink of mathematics as a game like chess, played with symbols instead of pieces.\nThe axioms are the starting position and the rules of inference are the legal moves.\nFor example, in a formal system for arithmetic the string $0 + 0 = 0$ is a theorem because a sequence of legal moves leads to it.\nA strict formalist says that this is all there is to it, and that the question \"is it really true?\" does not arise.\n",
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