Intrinsic Explanation and Field's Dispensabilist Strategy
Marcus, Russell (2007) Intrinsic Explanation and Field's Dispensabilist Strategy. In [2008] Reduction and the Special Sciences (Tilburg, April 10-12, 2008).
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Abstract
Philosophy of mathematics for the last half-century has been dominated in one way or another by Quine’s indispensability argument. The argument alleges that our best scientific theory quantifies over, and thus commits us to, mathematical objects. In this paper, I present new considerations which undermine the most serious challenge to Quine’s argument, Hartry Field’s reformulation of Newtonian Gravitational Theory.
| Keywords: | Field Indispensability Intrinsic Explanation Quine |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences: Mathematics General Issues: Reductionism/Holism General Issues: Explanation |
| Conferences and Volumes: | [2008] Reduction and the Special Sciences (Tilburg, April 10-12, 2008) |
| ID Code: | 3891 |
| Deposited By: | Marcus, Russell |
| Deposited On: | 14 Febuary 2008 |