The ins and outs of mathematical explanation

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• Mark Colyvan (University of Sydney)
• Wednesday 02 November 2011, 13:00-14:00
• Seminar Room 1, Department of History and Philosophy of Science.

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Proofs of mathematical theorems tell us that the theorem is true, but some proofs go further and tell us why the theorem is true. That is, some, but not all, proofs are explanatory. Call this intra-mathematical explanation. It has been argued that whenever there are physical applications of the theorems in question, we also have mathematical explanations of physical phenomena. Call this extra-mathematical explanation. In this paper I will consider both intra- and extra-mathematical explanations and discuss why they are of philosophical interest. I will also make some speculative remarks about two promising accounts for a theory of mathematical explanation.

This talk is part of the HPS Philosophy Workshop series.

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