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

_______________________________ 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

_____________________________ 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

___________________________ 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