A Counterfactual Approach to Explanation in Mathematic

Journal article

Baron, Sam, Colyvan, Mark and Ripley, David. (2020). A Counterfactual Approach to Explanation in Mathematic. Philosophia Mathematica. 28(1), pp. 1-34. https://doi.org/10.1093/philmat/nkz023
AuthorsBaron, Sam, Colyvan, Mark and Ripley, David
Abstract

Our goal in this paper is to extend counterfactual accounts of scientific explanation to mathematics. Our focus, in particular, is on intra-mathematical explanations: explanations of one mathematical fact in terms of another. We offer a basic counterfactual theory of intra-mathematical explanations, before modelling the explanatory structure of a test case using counterfactual machinery. We finish by considering the application of counterpossibles to mathematical explanation, and explore a second test case along these lines.

Year2020
JournalPhilosophia Mathematica
Journal citation28 (1), pp. 1-34
PublisherOxford University Press
ISSN1744-6406
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1093/philmat/nkz023
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85085598570
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range1-34
FunderAustralian Research Council (ARC)
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online02 Dec 2019
Publication process dates
Deposited25 Oct 2021
Grant IDARC/FT110100909
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