Volume 181, Number 1, 63-77, DOI: 10.1007/s11229-009-9591-z

Reichenbach and Weyl on apriority and mathematical applicability

Sandy Berkovski

From the issue entitled "HANS REICHENBACH, ISTANBUL, AND EXPERIENCE AND PREDICTION"

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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.

Keywords  Relative a priori – Convention – Reichenbach – Weyl – Friedman

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