The Enhanced Indispensability Argument: Representational versus Explanatory Role of Mathematics in Science
British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 62 (1):143-154 (2011)
| Abstract | The Enhanced Indispensability Argument (Baker [ 2009 ]) exemplifies the new wave of the indispensability argument for mathematical Platonism. The new wave capitalizes on mathematics' role in scientific explanations. I will criticize some analyses of mathematics' explanatory function. In turn, I will emphasize the representational role of mathematics, and argue that the debate would significantly benefit from acknowledging this alternative viewpoint to mathematics' contribution to scientific explanations and knowledge | |||||||||
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