BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:The ins and outs of mathematical explanation - Mark Colyvan (Unive
 rsity  of Sydney)
DTSTART:20111102T130000Z
DTEND:20111102T140000Z
UID:TALK33302@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:22487
DESCRIPTION:Proofs of mathematical theorems tell us that the theorem is tr
 ue\, but some proofs go further and tell us why the theorem is true. That 
 is\, some\, but not all\, proofs are explanatory. Call this intra-mathemat
 ical explanation. It has been argued that whenever there are physical appl
 ications of the \ntheorems in question\, we also have mathematical explana
 tions of physical phenomena. Call this extra-mathematical explanation. In 
 this paper I will \nconsider both intra- and extra-mathematical explanatio
 ns and discuss why they are of philosophical interest. I will also make so
 me speculative remarks about two promising accounts for a theory of mathem
 atical explanation.
LOCATION:Seminar Room 1\, Department of History and Philosophy of Science
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR