منابع مشابه
Mathematical Explanation in Science
Does mathematics ever play an explanatory role in science? If so then this opens the way for scientific realists to argue for the existence of mathematical entities using inference to the best explanation. Elsewhere I have argued, using a case study involving the primenumbered life cycles of periodical cicadas, that there are examples of indispensable mathematical explanations of purely physica...
متن کاملMathematical induction and explanation
Hawley, K. 2008. Persistence and determination. Philosophy 83 (Suppl 62), 197–212. Langford, S. 2007. How to defend the cohabitation theory. The Philosophical Quarterly 57: 212–24. Lewis, D. 1983. Postscripts to ‘Survival and identity’. Philosophical Papers Volume I: 73–77. McGrath, M. 2007. Four-dimensionalism and the puzzles of coincidence. In Oxford Studies in Metaphysics 3, ed. Dean Zimmerm...
متن کاملCausal Explanation from Mathematical Models
Decision support systems may require the use of existing complex mathematical models. It is desirable to reduce the equations of such a model to an explanatory causal form to support decision making, for example in making decisions about the greenhouse effect. This paper presents an approach to constructing causal explanation from existing complex mathematical models. The method combines inform...
متن کاملThe Nature of Mathematical Explanation
Although in the past three decades interest in mathematical explanation revived, recent literature on the subject seems to neglect the strict connection between explanation and discovery. In this paper I sketch an alternative approach that takes such connection into account. My approach is a revised version of one originally considered by Descartes. The main difference is that my approach is in...
متن کاملMathematical Explanation: Problems and Prospects
Since this issue is devoted to the interaction between philosophy of mathematics and mathematical practice, I would like to begin with an introductory reflection on this topic, before I enter the specifics of my contribution. In the past thirty years there has been a marked shift in philosophy of mathematics, due to the appearance of research on aspects of mathematics that were previously ignor...
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ژورنال
عنوان ژورنال: Nature
سال: 1976
ISSN: 0028-0836,1476-4687
DOI: 10.1038/261081a0