Full Idea
It has been claimed that only predicative mathematics has a justification through its usefulness to science (an empiricist approach).
Gist of Idea
If mathematics rests on science, predicativism may be the best approach
Source
David Bostock (Philosophy of Mathematics [2009], 8.3)
Book Reference
Bostock,David: 'Philosophy of Mathematics: An Introduction' [Wiley-Blackwell 2009], p.252
A Reaction
[compressed. Quine is the obvious candidate] I suppose predicativism gives your theory roots, whereas impredicativism is playing an abstract game.