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Original scientific paper

Mathematics and Physics within the Context of Justification: Induction vs. Universal Generalization

Marko Grba ; University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Majda Trobok ; University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia


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Abstract

Motivated by the analogy which holds within the context of discovery between mathematics and physics, we aim to show that there is a connection between two fields within the context of justification too. Based on the careful analysis of examples from science (especially within the domain of physics) we suggest that the logic of scientific research, which might appear as enumerative induction, is deduction, and we propose it to be universal generalization inference rule. Our main argument closely follows the analysis of the structure of physical theory proposed by theoretical physicist Eugene P. Wigner.

Keywords

Mathematics-physics analogy; context of justification; enumerative induction; universal generalization; Wigner’s account of physics.

Hrčak ID:

253637

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/253637

Publication date:

31.3.2020.

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