Mathematics allows us to develop physical theories that make accurate predictions. These theories relate a primitive ontology to nomological variables. All of our physical theories make metaphysical commitments that are directly or indirectly related to mathematical models. After a brief introduction to some of the fundamental issues associated with the use of mathematics in developing physical theories, I discuss how the link between physics and metaphysics was achieved in classical mechanics, special relativity and quantum theory. I argue that mathematics may not be sufficient for developing a theory of everything due to incompleteness of formal systems or the existence of unknowable truths.
Efthimios Harokopos