The Applicability of Mathematics as a Philosophical Problem

“The book is clear despite its often technical subject matter, and the main theses are well argued for. It’s packed with interesting examples from physics—particularly quantum mechanics…[and] is a valuable addition to the philosophy of science and philosophy of mathematics literature. It presents a rigorous and detailed presentation of a puzzle that I believe is crying out for attention.”—Mark Colyvan, Mind

“If mathematics is about finding solutions to well-defined problems, then philosophy is about finding problems in what previously we thought were well-established solutions. Mark Steiner’s The Applicability of Mathematics as a Philosophical Problem mirrors both sides of this statement, admitting that mathematics is the key to solving problems in the physical sciences, but also asserting that this very applicability of mathematics to physics constitutes a problem… Steiner’s challenge to naturalism is accessible, powerful, and well worth pondering.”—William A. Dembski, Books & Culture