Reichenbach and Weyl on apriority and mathematical applicability

Sandy Berkovski

pp. 63-77

in: Gürol Irzik, Elliott Sober (eds), Hans Reichenbach, Istanbul, and experience and prediction, Synthese 181 (1), 2011.

Abstract

I examine Reichenbach’s theory of relative a priori and Michael Friedman’s interpretation of it. I argue that Reichenbach’s view remains at bottom conventionalist and that one issue which separates Reichenbach’s account from Kant’s apriorism is the problem of mathematical applicability. I then discuss Hermann Weyl’s theory of blank forms which in many ways runs parallel to the theory of relative a priori. I argue that it is capable of dealing with the problem of applicability, but with a cost.

Cited authors

Kant Immanuel

Weyl Hermann

Friedman Michael