Mathematical nominalism and measurement

Rizza, Davide (2009) Mathematical nominalism and measurement. Philosophia Mathematica, 18 (1). pp. 53-73. ISSN 1744-6406

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Abstract

In this paper I defend mathematical nominalism by arguing that any reasonable account of scientific theories and scientific practice must make explicit the empirical non-mathematical grounds on which the application of mathematics is based. Once this is done, references to mathematical entities may be eliminated or explained away in terms of underlying empirical conditions. I provide evidence for this conclusion by presenting a detailed study of the applicability of mathematics to measurement. This study shows that mathematical nominalismmay be regarded as amethodological approach to applicability, illuminating the use of mathematics in science.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies (former - to 2024)
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Philosophy Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Algebra, Number Theory, Logic, and Representations (ANTLR)
Depositing User:	EPrints Services
Date Deposited:	01 Oct 2010 13:58
Last Modified:	12 Oct 2025 15:33
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/10016
DOI:	10.1093/philmat/nkp010

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