Colloquium: Chris Pincock

Abstract: Most discussions of the role of mathematics in science focus on positive contributions, but here I consider three cases where mathematics made a negative contribution. These cases are the static representation of a column, the Black-Scholes model for options pricing and Laplace's calculation of the speed of sound in air. These three failures suggest the possibility of systematic problems with our scientific knowledge, but I conclude that a limited form of scientific realism remains viable.