scholarly journals Optimal representations and the Enhanced Indispensability Argument

Synthese ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 196 (1) ◽  
pp. 247-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Barrantes
Keyword(s):  
Indispensability Argument ◽  
Enhanced Indispensability Argument

scholarly journals Unification and mathematical explanation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Knowles
Keyword(s):  
Divide And Conquer ◽  
Mathematical Explanation ◽  
Indispensability Argument ◽  
Mathematical Explanations ◽  
Enhanced Indispensability Argument ◽  
One Step ◽  
The Right

AbstractThis paper provides a sorely-needed evaluation of the view that mathematical explanations in science explain by unifying. Illustrating with some novel examples, I argue that the view is misguided. For believers in mathematical explanations in science, my discussion rules out one way of spelling out how they work, bringing us one step closer to the right way. For non-believers, it contributes to a divide-and-conquer strategy for showing that there are no such explanations in science. My discussion also undermines the appeal to unifying power in support of the enhanced indispensability argument.

scholarly journals Platonic Relations and Mathematical Explanations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Knowles
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Explanation ◽  
Indispensability Argument ◽  
Scientific Explanations ◽  
Turn On ◽  
Mathematical Explanations ◽  
Mathematical Platonism ◽  
Adequate Understanding ◽  
Enhanced Indispensability Argument

Abstract Some scientific explanations appear to turn on pure mathematical claims. The enhanced indispensability argument appeals to these ‘mathematical explanations’ in support of mathematical platonism. I argue that the success of this argument rests on the claim that mathematical explanations locate pure mathematical facts on which their physical explananda depend, and that any account of mathematical explanation that supports this claim fails to provide an adequate understanding of mathematical explanation.

scholarly journals Mathematical explanation and indispensability

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Vineberg
Keyword(s):  
Causal Explanation ◽  
Mathematical Explanation ◽  
Indispensability Argument ◽  
Mathematical Realism ◽  
Explanatory Role ◽  
Mathematical Objects ◽  
Scientific Explanations ◽  
Enhanced Indispensability Argument

This paper discusses Baker’s Enhanced Indispensability Argument (EIA) for mathematical realism on the basis of the indispensable role mathematics plays in scientific explanations of physical facts, along with various responses to it. I argue that there is an analogue of causal explanation for mathematics which, of several basic types of explanation, holds the most promise for use in the EIA. I consider a plausible case where mathematics plays an explanatory role in this sense, but argue that such use still does not support realism about mathematical objects.

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