MEASUREMENT-THEORETIC OBSERVATIONS ON FIELD’S INSTRUMENTALISM AND THE APPLICABILITY OF MATHEMATICS

by Davide Rizza

Datum	Value	Source
TITLE	MEASUREMENT-THEORETIC OBSERVATIONS ON FIELD’S INSTRUMENTALISM AND THE APPLICABILITY OF MATHEMATICS	SVM HeaderParse 0.2
AUTHOR NAME	Davide Rizza	SVM HeaderParse 0.2
ABSTRACT	In this paper I examine Field’s account of the applicability of mathematics from a measurementtheoretic perspective. Within this context, I object to Field’s instrumentalism, arguing that it depends on an incomplete analysis of applicability. I show in particular that, once the missing piece of analysis is provided, the role played by numerical entities in basic empirical theories must be revised: such revision implies that instrumentalism should be rejected and mathematical entities be regarded not merely as useful tools but also as conceptual schemata by means of which we can articulate our understanding of experience.	SVM HeaderParse 0.2
CITATIONS	6 found	ParsCit 1.0