Reichenbach and weyl on apriority and mathematical applicability

Date
2011
Authors
Berkovski, S.
Advisor
Instructor
Source Title
Synthese
Print ISSN
0039-7857
Electronic ISSN
Publisher
Volume
181
Issue
1
Pages
63 - 77
Language
English
Type
Article
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract

I examine Reichenbach's theory of relative a priori and Michael Friedman's interpretation of it. I argue that Reichenbach's view remains at bottom conventionalist and that one issue which separates Reichenbach's account from Kant's apriorism is the problem of mathematical applicability. I then discuss Hermann Weyl's theory of blank forms which in many ways runs parallel to the theory of relative a priori. I argue that it is capable of dealing with the problem of applicability, but with a cost.

Course
Other identifiers
Book Title
Keywords
Convention, Friedman, Reichenbach, Relative a priori, Weyl
Citation
Published Version (Please cite this version)