In this paper I examine Quine's indispensability argument, with particular emphasis on what is meant by 'indispensable'. I show that confirmation theory plays a crucial role in answering this question and that once indispensability is understood in this light, Quine's argument is seen to be a serious stumbling block for any scientific realist wishing to maintain an anti-realist position with regard to mathematical entities. © 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers.
CITATION STYLE
Colyvan, M. (1999). Confirmation theory and indispensability. Philosophical Studies, 96(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004248218844
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