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Physicalism Without the Idols of Mathematics

Szabo, Laszlo E. (2023) Physicalism Without the Idols of Mathematics. Foundations of Science.

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Abstract

I will argue that the ontological doctrine of physicalism inevitably entails the denial that there is anything conceptual in logic and mathematics. The elements of a formal system, even if they are tagged by suggestive names, are merely meaningless parts of a physically existing machinery, which have nothing to do with concepts, because they have nothing to do with the actual things. The only situation in which they can become meaning-carriers is when they are involved in a physical theory. But in this role they refer to elements of the physical reality, i.e. they represent a physical concept. “Mathematical concepts” are just idols, that philosophy can completely deny and physics can completely ignore.

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Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Szabo, Laszlo E.laszlo.e.szabo@gmail.com0000-0001-7454-8421
Keywords: Naturalized epistemology, A priori, Semantics, Mathematical concept, Formalist philosophy of mathematics, Constitutive a priori
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
General Issues > Structure of Theories
Depositing User: Prof. Laszlo E. Szabo
Date Deposited: 13 Jul 2023 12:52
Last Modified: 13 Jul 2023 12:52
Item ID: 22309
Journal or Publication Title: Foundations of Science
Publisher: Springer Nature
Official URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10699-0...
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1007/s10699-023-09920-1
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
General Issues > Structure of Theories
Date: 10 July 2023
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/22309

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