<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This paper considers Maddy’s strategy for naturalising mathematics in the context of Quine’s scientific naturalism. The aim of this proposal is to account for the acceptability of mathematics on scientific grounds without committing to revisionism about mathematical practice entailed by the Quine-Putnam indispensability argument. It has been argued that Maddy’s mathematical naturalism makes inconsistent assumptions on the role of mathematics in scientific explanations to the effect that it cannot distinguish mathematics from pseudo-science. I shall clarify Maddy’s arguments and show that the objection can be overcome. I shall then reformulate a novel version of the objection and consider a possible answer, and I shall conclude that mathematical naturalism does not ultimately provide a viable strategy for accommodating an anti-revisionary stance on mathematics within a Quinean naturalist framework.</p></abstract>

This paper considers Maddy’s strategy for naturalising mathematics in the context of Quine’s scientific naturalism. The aim of this proposal is to account for the acceptability of mathematics on scientific grounds without committing to revisionism about mathematical practice entailed by the Quine-Putnam indispensability argument. It has been argued that Maddy’s mathematical naturalism makes inconsistent assumptions on the role of mathematics in scientific explanations to the effect that it cannot distinguish mathematics from pseudo-science. I shall clarify Maddy’s arguments and show that the objection can be overcome. I shall then reformulate a novel version of the objection and consider a possible answer, and I shall conclude that mathematical naturalism does not ultimately provide a viable strategy for accommodating an anti-revisionary stance on mathematics within a Quinean naturalist framework.

Naturalising Mathematics: A Critical Look at the Quine-Maddy Debate

Disputatio

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Naturalising Mathematics: A Critical Look at the Quine-Maddy Debate"}

This paper considers Maddy’s strategy for naturalising mathematics in the context of Quine’s scientific naturalism. The aim of this proposal is to account for...

Naturalising Mathematics: A Critical Look at the Quine-Maddy Debate

Publié en ligne: 31 déc. 2018

Pages: 323 - 342

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/disp-2012-0002

Mots clés
Quinean scientific naturalism, confirmational holism, indispensability argument, revisionism, mathematical naturalism

© 2012 Marianna Antonutti Marfori, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Naturalising Mathematics: A Critical Look at the Quine-Maddy Debate

Publié en ligne: 31 déc. 2018

Pages: 323 - 342

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/disp-2012-0002

Mots clésQuinean scientific naturalism, confirmational holism, indispensability argument, revisionism, mathematical naturalism

© 2012 Marianna Antonutti Marfori, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mots clés
Quinean scientific naturalism, confirmational holism, indispensability argument, revisionism, mathematical naturalism