Räz, Tim and Sauer, Tilman (2014) Outline of a Dynamical Inferential Conception of the Application of Mathematics. [Preprint]

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Abstract

We outline a framework for analyzing episodes from the history of science in which the application of mathematics plays a constitutive role in the conceptual development of empirical sciences. Our starting point is the inferential conception of the application of mathematics, recently advanced by Bueno and Colyvan (2011). We identify and discuss some systematic problems of this approach. We propose refinements of the inferential conception based on theoretical considerations and on the basis of a historical case study. We demonstrate the usefulness of the refined, dynamical inferential conception using the well-researched example of the genesis of general relativity. Specifically, we look at the collaboration of the physicist Einstein and the mathematician Grossmann in the years 1912--1913, which resulted in the jointly published ``Outline of a Generalized Theory of Relativity and a Theory of Gravitation,'' a precursor theory of the final theory of general relativity. In this episode, an independently developed mathematical theory, the theory of differential invariants and the absolute differential calculus, was applied in the process of physical theorizing aiming at finding a relativistic theory of gravitation. We argue that the dynamical inferential conception not only provides a natural framework to describe and analyze this episode, but it also generates new questions and insights. We comment on the mathematical tradition on which Grossmann drew, and on his own contributions to mathematical theorizing. We argue that the dynamical inferential conception allows us to identify both the role of heuristics and of mathematical resources as well as the systematic role of problems and mistakes in the reconstruction of episodes of conceptual innovation and theory change.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Räz, Tim tim.raez@gmail.com Sauer, Tilman tilman@itp.unibe.ch
Keywords:	Applicability; Mathematics; Genesis of General Relativity; Absolute Differential Calculus; Inferential Conception; Einstein; Grossmann; Ricci; Levi-Civita; Christoffel.
Subjects:	General Issues > History of Science Case Studies Specific Sciences > Mathematics Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory General Issues > Theory Change
Depositing User:	Tim Räz
Date Deposited:	29 Jul 2014 16:15
Last Modified:	06 Mar 2015 15:20
Item ID:	10912
Subjects:	General Issues > History of Science Case Studies Specific Sciences > Mathematics Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory General Issues > Theory Change
Date:	2014
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/10912

Available Versions of this Item

• Outline of a Dynamical Inferential Conception of the Application of Mathematics. (deposited 29 Jul 2014 16:15) [Currently Displayed]
  • Outline of a dynamical inferential conception of the application of mathematics. (deposited 06 Mar 2015 15:20)

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