Optimisation and mathematical explanation: doing the Lévy Walk

• Autores: Sam Baron
• Localización: Synthese, ISSN-e 1573-0964, Vol. 191, Nº. 3, 2014, págs. 459-479
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • The indispensability argument seeks to establish the existence of mathematical objects. The success of the indispensability argument turns on finding cases of genuine extra-mathematical explanation (the explanation of physical facts by mathematical facts). In this paper, I identify a new case of extra-mathematical explanation, involving the search patterns of fully-aquatic marine predators. I go on to use this case to predict the prevalence of extra-mathematical explanation in science