Description:
How is that when scientists need some piece of mathematics through which to frame their theory, it is there to hand? Bueno and French offer a new approach to the puzzle of the applicability of mathematics, through a detailed examination of a series of case studies from the history of twentieth-century physics.
Review Quotes: "a valuable addition to the ongoing debates about the partial-structures approach in philosophy of physics, presenting a coherent account of the position of the authors, argued through a series of detailed and interesting case studies of advances in quantum physics that are so complex that no superficial account would serve the philosophical analyses sought after. . . . an elaborate exposition and defence of a promising, practice-sensitive approach to philosophy of physics. To the broader community of historians and philosophers of science, the book is also a valuable addition, perhaps mainly for its philosophically focused analyses of important historical events which build upon, but also contribute to, the existing specialized scholarship and the account for how mathematical surplus structure can function in theory development." -- Henrik Kragh Sørensen, Metascience
"a readable, informative, and compelling account of mathematics as it is deployed in physical theory ... you will want to have this book around to refer to if you do any work in the philosophy of mathematics/physics/science. And if you work on mathematical application and explanation, you should read and carefully consider the book in its entirety." -- Anthony F. Peressini, Philosophia Mathematica"[an] important and richly detailed contribution to our better understanding of mathematical models" -- Atoosa Kasirzadeh & James Robert Brown, Philosophy of Science"Otávio Bueno and Steven French have produced a readable, informative, and compelling account of mathematics as it is deployed in physical theory. . . .Âyou will want to have this book around to refer to if you do any work in the philosophy of mathematics/physics/science. And if you work on mathematical application and explanation, you should read and carefully consider the book in its entirety." -- Anthony Peressini, Philosophia Mathematica