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Ontology and the Mathematization of the Scientific Enterprise Cover

Ontology and the Mathematization of the Scientific Enterprise

Open Access
|Oct 2021

Abstract

In this basically expository paper we discuss the role oflogic and mathematics in researches concerning the ontology of scientific theories, and we consider the particular case of quantum mechanics. We argue that systems of logic in general, and classical logic in particular, may contribute substantially with the ontology of any theory that has this logic in its base. In the case of quantum mechanics, however, from the point of view of philosophical discussions conceming identity and individuality, those contributions may not be welcome for a specific interpretation, and an altemative system of logic perhaps could be used instead of a classical system. In this sense, we argue that the logic and ontology of a scientific theory may be seen as mutually inftuencing each other. On the one hand, logic contributes to shape the general features of the ontology of a theory; on the other hand, the theory also puts constraints on the possible understanding of ontology and, respectively, on possible systems of logic that may be the underlying logic ofthe theory.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/phainomenon-2012-0018 | Journal eISSN: 2183-0142 | Journal ISSN: 0874-9493
Language: English
Page range: 109 - 130
Published on: Oct 14, 2021
Published by: Sciendo
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 2 issues per year

© 2021 Décio Krause Jonas R. B. Arenhart, Newton C. A. da Costa, published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.