The Quine–Putnam indispensability argument reasons that we should
believe in abstract mathematical objects such as numbers and sets
because mathematics is indispensable to science. One of the most
important ideas in the philosophy of mathematics, it is credited to
W. V. Quine and Hilary Putnam (pictured). The roots of the argument can
be traced back to thinkers such as Gottlob Frege and Kurt Gödel, but
Quine introduced its key components, including naturalism and
confirmational holism. Putnam gave Quine's argument its first detailed
formulation, although he later expressed disagreement with some aspects
of the argument. Many counterarguments have been raised against the
idea. An influential argument by Hartry Field holds that mathematical
entities are dispensable to science. Other philosophers, such as
Penelope Maddy, have argued that we do not need to believe in all of the
entities that are indispensable to science.
Read more:
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quine%E2%80%93Putnam_indispensability_argument>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1945:
The Nuremberg trials (defendants pictured) of 24 leading Nazis
involved in the Holocaust and various war crimes during World War II
began in Nuremberg, Germany.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_trials>
1947:
Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King George VI, married
Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, who was given the title Duke of
Edinburgh.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Philip,_Duke_of_Edinburgh>
1990:
Andrei Chikatilo, one of the Soviet Union's most prolific
serial killers, was arrested in Novocherkassk.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrei_Chikatilo>
2003:
Suicide bombers blew up the British consulate and the
headquarters of HSBC Bank in Istanbul, killing 31 people, including
consul general Roger Short and actor Kerem Yılmazer.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Istanbul_bombings>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
alderliefest:
(archaic or obsolete) Often used as an epithet when addressing someone:
most beloved.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/alderliefest>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
America reaches out all across the Pacific, building bridges
mightier than the Golden Gate, spanning … more space and time than the
great expanse that the water has. Bridges linking pride in our past.
The immigrants and workers who sunk their sweat … in the foundations
of this nation. And our hope for the future and the untold heights to
which we're going to climb together. Bridges connecting diverse
communities. All across the traditions, cultures, and languages, we
find the common dreams we share for ourselves and for our children.
Bridges that carry the ideas of entrepreneurs: "What if? Why not? What
next?"… I'm looking forward to seeing all the progress we're going to
make and all the bridges between our people we're going to continue to
build in the months and years ahead.
--Joe Biden
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Joe_Biden>