Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1160724 Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 2008 10 Pages PDF
Abstract

I critically examine confirmational holism as it pertains to the indispensability arguments for mathematical Platonism. I employ a distinction between pure and applied mathematics that grows out of the often overlooked symbiotic relationship between mathematics and science. I argue that this distinction undercuts the notion that (pure) mathematical theories fall under the holistic scope of the confirmation of our scientific theories.

Related Topics
Social Sciences and Humanities Arts and Humanities History
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