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(2008) Synthese 160 (1).
Arguing for mathematical realism on the basis of Field’s explanationist version of the Quine–Putnam Indispensability argument, Alan Baker has recently claimed to have found an instance of a genuine mathematical explanation of a physical phenomenon. While I agree that Baker presents a very interesting example in which mathematics plays an essential explanatory role, I show that this example, and the argument built upon it, begs the question against the mathematical nominalist.
Publication details
DOI: 10.1007/s11229-006-9070-8
Full citation:
Bangu, S. (2008). Inference to the best explanation and mathematical realism. Synthese 160 (1), pp. 13-20.
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