Mathematical and Metaphysical Explanations

Stefano Boscolo

Universita Ca' Foscari Venezia

pp. 51-64

in: East Asian Journal of Philosophy 2 (3), 2023.

Abstract

This paper explore the connection between metaphysics and mathematics. The paper has two goals. The modest goal is to compare metaphysical and mathematical explanations, emphasizing their similarities. The ambitious goal is to single out a special subset of mathematical explanations, i.e. Lange's distinctive mathematical explanations, and argue that they are actually grounding explanations.