2026/02/16 by Patricia Marino · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · Decision Sciences · Economics, Econometrics and Finance · #Economic Theory and Institutions #Game Theory and Applications #Philosophy and History of Science
paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/s0266267126100686
openalex publication_date 2026/02/16 · openalex created_date 2026/02/17 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
Abstract This paper engages with recent work on formalization in economics to develop a new perspective on mathematization. Boylan and O’Gorman draw on foundations of mathematics to argue that classical mathematics is inappropriate for economics; intuitionistic foundations and constructive mathematics should be used instead. The use of real analysis would be blocked and equilibrium results undermined. I argue that their line of thought faces several challenges; however, I then draw on their analyses and the philosophy of applied mathematics to propose a novel approach in which questions about mathematization are properly understood as questions about the contextual aptness of relevant idealizations.