display all the ideas for this combination of philosophers
3 ideas
10055 | Mathematical proofs work, irrespective of whether the objects exist [Locke] |
Full Idea: All the demonstrations of mathematicians are the same, whether there be any square or circle existing in the world or no. | |
From: John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 4.04.08) | |
A reaction: Musgrave gives this as an early indication of the if-thenist view of mathematics. |
12230 | Singular terms refer if they make certain atomic statements true [Hale/Wright] |
Full Idea: Anyone should agree that a justification for regarding a singular term as having objectual reference is provided just as soon as one has justification for regarding as true certain atomic statements in which it functions as a singular term. | |
From: B Hale / C Wright (The Metaontology of Abstraction [2009], §9) | |
A reaction: The meat of this idea is hidden in the word 'certain'. See Idea 10314 for Hale's explanation. Without that, the proposal strikes me as absurd. |
10631 | If 'x is heterological' iff it does not apply to itself, then 'heterological' is heterological if it isn't heterological [Hale/Wright] |
Full Idea: If we stipulate that 'x is heterological' iff it does not apply to itself, we speedily arrive at the contradiction that 'heterological' is itself heterological just in case it is not. | |
From: B Hale / C Wright (Intro to 'The Reason's Proper Study' [2001], 3.2) |