Full Idea
It is contentious, to say the least, to claim that infinite structures are apprehended by pattern recognition.
Gist of Idea
Could infinite structures be apprehended by pattern recognition?
Source
Stewart Shapiro (Philosophy of Mathematics [1997], 4.1)
Book Reference
Shapiro,Stewart: 'Philosophy of Mathematics:structure and ontology' [OUP 1997], p.112
A Reaction
It only seems contentious for completed infinities. The idea that the pattern continues in same way seems (pace Wittgenstein) fairly self-evident, just like an arithmetical series.