Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS Pavia
Linguistics & Philosophy IUSS Center
IUSS Philosophy Seminars
eMath Project
Epistemology of Mathematics and Logic
“COUNTERFACTUALS AND MATHEMATICAL EXPLANATION:
A LITANY OF WOES”
April 28th 2021, 14.00 – 16.00
Speaker:
- William D’Alessandro – MCMP, LMU Munich
Abstract:
Counterfactual theories propose to ground facts about explanation in the truth and falsity of certain counterfactual conditionals. The counterfactual approach to causal explanation has a long history. Some theorists in this tradition have also aimed to bring noncausal explanations under their banner, thereby forging a truly universal account of explanation. Recent work by Colyvan and collaborators deals with the important case of explanation in pure mathematics. I pose six problems for this counterfactual approach to mathematical explanation, having to do with degrees of explanatory goodness, asymmetry, diverse explanantia, overgeneration, undergeneration and epistemic value.
Use the following link to attend:
https://iusspavia.zoom.us/j/99529506550
Info: andrea.sereni@iusspavia.it – luca.zanetti@iusspavia.it