Mathematical Explanation of Physical Phenomena: A Step Toward Pluralism?

A traditional trend toward scientific explanation aimed to provide a single account of the nature of explanation. On the other hand, a recent attitude toward mathematical explanations of physical phenomena is to go ‘pluralist’ and consider that what makes something a good explanation can vary from case to case, i.e. there are different kinds of explanation which cannot be captured through a single model. In this paper I will show how two classical theories of scientific explanation (Van Fraassen’s pragmatic model and Kitcher’s unification model) have difficulties in accounting for a case of mathematical explanation of physical phenomena recognized as such in scientific practice. Furthermore, I will argue that the result of this testing does suggest a new picture of mathematical explanations of physical phenomena. According to this new perspective, the pluralist attitude should be considered as the most promising way to the investigation of mathematical explanation of physical phenomena.