Empirical regularities in Wittgenstein's philosophy of mathematics

Abstract

During the course of about ten years, Wittgenstein revised some of his most basic views in philosophy of mathematics, for example that a mathematical theorem can have only one proof. This essay argues that these changes are rooted in his growing belief that mathematical theorems are 'internally' connected to their canonical applications, i.e., that mathematical theorems are 'hardened' empirical regularities, upon which the former are supervenient. The central role Wittgenstein increasingly assigns to empirical regularities had profound implications for all of his later philosophy; some of these implications (particularly to rule following) are addressed in the essay. © The Author [2008]. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.