Acta Structuralica

international journal for structuralist research

Journal | Volume | Article

236612

Inference to the best explanation and mathematical realism

Sorin Bangu

pp. 13-20

Abstract

Arguing for mathematical realism on the basis of Field’s explanationist version of the Quine–Putnam Indispensability argument, Alan Baker has recently claimed to have found an instance of a genuine mathematical explanation of a physical phenomenon. While I agree that Baker presents a very interesting example in which mathematics plays an essential explanatory role, I show that this example, and the argument built upon it, begs the question against the mathematical nominalist.

Publication details

Published in:

(2008) Synthese 160 (1).

Pages: 13-20

DOI: 10.1007/s11229-006-9070-8

Full citation:

Bangu Sorin (2008) „Inference to the best explanation and mathematical realism“. Synthese 160 (1), 13–20.