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Mechanistic explanation and explanatory proofs in mathematics(aEuro)

Joachim Frans (UGent) and Erik Weber (UGent)
(2014) PHILOSOPHIA MATHEMATICA. 22(2). p.231-248
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Abstract
Although there is a consensus among philosophers of mathematics and mathematicians that mathematical explanations exist, only a few authors have proposed accounts of explanation in mathematics. These accounts fit into the unificationist or top-down approach to explanation. We argue that these models can be complemented by a bottom-up approach to explanation in mathematics. We introduce the mechanistic model of explanation in science and discuss the possibility of using this model in mathematics, arguing that using it does not presuppose a Platonist view of mathematics and allows one to gain insight into why a theorem is true by answering what-if-things-had-been-different questions.

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MLA
Frans, Joachim, and Erik Weber. “Mechanistic Explanation and Explanatory Proofs in Mathematics(AEuro).” PHILOSOPHIA MATHEMATICA, vol. 22, no. 2, 2014, pp. 231–48, doi:10.1093/philmat/nku003.
APA
Frans, J., & Weber, E. (2014). Mechanistic explanation and explanatory proofs in mathematics(aEuro). PHILOSOPHIA MATHEMATICA, 22(2), 231–248. https://doi.org/10.1093/philmat/nku003
Chicago author-date
Frans, Joachim, and Erik Weber. 2014. “Mechanistic Explanation and Explanatory Proofs in Mathematics(AEuro).” PHILOSOPHIA MATHEMATICA 22 (2): 231–48. https://doi.org/10.1093/philmat/nku003.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Frans, Joachim, and Erik Weber. 2014. “Mechanistic Explanation and Explanatory Proofs in Mathematics(AEuro).” PHILOSOPHIA MATHEMATICA 22 (2): 231–248. doi:10.1093/philmat/nku003.
Vancouver
1.
Frans J, Weber E. Mechanistic explanation and explanatory proofs in mathematics(aEuro). PHILOSOPHIA MATHEMATICA. 2014;22(2):231–48.
IEEE
[1]
J. Frans and E. Weber, “Mechanistic explanation and explanatory proofs in mathematics(aEuro),” PHILOSOPHIA MATHEMATICA, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 231–248, 2014.
@article{5718356,
  abstract     = {{Although there is a consensus among philosophers of mathematics and mathematicians that mathematical explanations exist, only a few authors have proposed accounts of explanation in mathematics. These accounts fit into the unificationist or top-down approach to explanation. We argue that these models can be complemented by a bottom-up approach to explanation in mathematics. We introduce the mechanistic model of explanation in science and discuss the possibility of using this model in mathematics, arguing that using it does not presuppose a Platonist view of mathematics and allows one to gain insight into why a theorem is true by answering what-if-things-had-been-different questions.}},
  author       = {{Frans, Joachim and Weber, Erik}},
  issn         = {{0031-8019}},
  journal      = {{PHILOSOPHIA MATHEMATICA}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{231--248}},
  title        = {{Mechanistic explanation and explanatory proofs in mathematics(aEuro)}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1093/philmat/nku003}},
  volume       = {{22}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}
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