Jacobs, Caspar (2026) On Mathematics as the Language of Physics. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Do theoretical models represent the world by themselves or only when mediated by language? Although the latter answer is standard in the literature on scientific representation, recently the former type of view has become popular. It is seen as an advantage of such a maths-only view that it leads to a form of structural realism. I argue that this is not the case: there is no reason to believe that mathematics represents only structure.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Jacobs, Caspar c.a.jacobs@phil.leidenuniv.nl 0000-0001-6903-0468
Additional Information:	This is a heavily re-written version of - maybe even a follow-up to - an earlier manuscript entitled 'Stating Maths-First Realism'.
Keywords:	scientific representation, maths-first, structural realism, underdetermination
Subjects:	General Issues > Models and Idealization General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism General Issues > Structure of Theories
Depositing User:	Caspar Jacobs
Date Deposited:	25 Feb 2026 13:32
Last Modified:	25 Feb 2026 13:32
Item ID:	28331
Subjects:	General Issues > Models and Idealization General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism General Issues > Structure of Theories
Date:	2026
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/28331

Available Versions of this Item

• Stating Maths-First Realism, or: How to Say Things with Models. (deposited 27 Feb 2024 03:48)
  • On Mathematics as the Language of Physics. (deposited 25 Feb 2026 13:32) [Currently Displayed]

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