Mathematical facts are facts about well-defined what-if scenarios. We evolved to be able to consider such scenarios because they often bear a resemblance to what happens to us. So there is an explanation for how our beliefs about mathematics could become correlated with mathematical truth, even though this explanation is not causal. However, it is not entirely obvious how to tell a similar story about moral truths—why did we evolve to be able to perceive moral facts, if indeed we did?
I’m not saying that we perceive mathematical facts. Rather that if there is a non perceptual.and therefore non causal epistemology for mathematics, there could be for other things.
But they aren’t causally inert, they’re part of causality! Our universe runs on mathematical laws, and mathematics is mostly just a description (or extrapolation) of them. If there were weird carve-out exceptions for 2+2=5 in our physics, they would very much be incorporated into our mathematics. If we lived in a universe where physics operated by different mathematical laws, then our conception of mathematics would be correspondingly different.
You seem to be claiming that it is possible for mathematical truths such as 2+2=5 to be other than what they are; I can agree with this on an epistemological level (since we don’t know all mathematical truths) but on on ontological level, no: mathematical truths are necessary truths. This is the conventional view though I’m not really sure how to argue it to a skeptic: but if you don’t see why 2+2=4 is a necessary truth then I claim you don’t truly comprehend why 2+2=4.
If the Mathematical facts are causally inert....
Mathematical facts are facts about well-defined what-if scenarios. We evolved to be able to consider such scenarios because they often bear a resemblance to what happens to us. So there is an explanation for how our beliefs about mathematics could become correlated with mathematical truth, even though this explanation is not causal. However, it is not entirely obvious how to tell a similar story about moral truths—why did we evolve to be able to perceive moral facts, if indeed we did?
I’m not saying that we perceive mathematical facts. Rather that if there is a non perceptual.and therefore non causal epistemology for mathematics, there could be for other things.
Sure, “could be”.
They are not! If two plus two equals five, two apples and two more apples would add up to five apples.
But they aren’t causally inert, they’re part of causality! Our universe runs on mathematical laws, and mathematics is mostly just a description (or extrapolation) of them. If there were weird carve-out exceptions for 2+2=5 in our physics, they would very much be incorporated into our mathematics. If we lived in a universe where physics operated by different mathematical laws, then our conception of mathematics would be correspondingly different.
I think this refutes Platonism, but I’m not sure.
You seem to be claiming that it is possible for mathematical truths such as 2+2=5 to be other than what they are; I can agree with this on an epistemological level (since we don’t know all mathematical truths) but on on ontological level, no: mathematical truths are necessary truths. This is the conventional view though I’m not really sure how to argue it to a skeptic: but if you don’t see why 2+2=4 is a necessary truth then I claim you don’t truly comprehend why 2+2=4.