Himelright, Jack (2022) Applied Mathematics without Numbers. [Preprint]

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Abstract

In this paper, I develop a "safety result" for applied mathematics. I show that whenever a theory in natural science entails some non-mathematical conclusion via an application of mathematics, there is a counterpart theory that carries no commitment to mathematical objects, entails the same conclusion, and the claims of which are true if the claims of the original theory are "correct": roughly, true given the assumption that mathematical objects exist. The framework used for proving the safety result has some advantages over existing nominalistic accounts of applied mathematics. It also provides a nominalistic account of pure mathematics.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Himelright, Jack jhimelri@ksu.edu 0000-0003-1501-7596
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Applicability Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Foundations Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Ontology Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Proof
Depositing User:	Dr Jack Himelright
Date Deposited:	08 Jul 2025 21:43
Last Modified:	08 Jul 2025 21:43
Item ID:	25884
DOI or Unique Handle:	10.1093/philmat/nkac032
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Applicability Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Foundations Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Ontology Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Proof
Date:	16 December 2022
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/25884

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