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(2016) Axiomathes 26 (2).

Against mathematical convenientism

Seungbae Park

pp. 115-122

Indispensablists argue that when our belief system conflicts with our experiences, we can negate a mathematical belief but we do not because if we do, we would have to make an excessive revision of our belief system. Thus, we retain a mathematical belief not because we have good evidence for it but because it is convenient to do so. I call this view "mathematical convenientism.' I argue that mathematical convenientism commits the consequential fallacy and that it demolishes the Quine–Putnam indispensability argument and Baker's enhanced indispensability argument.

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Park, S. (2016). Against mathematical convenientism. Axiomathes 26 (2), pp. 115-122.

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