1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910825924603321

Autore

Steiner Mark

Titolo

The applicability of mathematics as a philosophical problem / / Mark Steiner

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cambridge, MA, : Harvard University Press, 1998

ISBN

0-674-04398-7

Edizione

[1st ed.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (viii,215p. ) : ill

Classificazione

CC 3500

Disciplina

530.15

Soggetti

Mathematical physics

Mathematics - Philosophy

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (p. [203]-209) and index.

Nota di contenuto

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- 1. The Semantic Applicability of Mathematics: Frege's Achievements -- 2. The Descriptive Applicability of Mathematics -- 3. Mathematics, Analogies, and Discovery in Physics -- 4. Pythagorean Analogies in Physics -- 5. Formalisms and Formalist Reasoning in Quantum Mechanics -- 6. Formalist Reasoning: The Mystery of Quantization -- Appendix A. A "Nonphysical" Derivation of Quantum Mechanics -- Appendix B. Nucleon-Pion Scattering -- Appendix C. Nonrelativistic Schroedinger Equation with Spin -- References -- Index

Sommario/riassunto

This text analyzes the different ways mathematics is applicable in the physical sciences, and presents a novel thesis - the success of mathematical physics appears to assign the human mind a special place in the cosmos.