Single Idea 17454

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 1. Mathematical Platonism / b. Against mathematical platonism]

Full Idea

For a long time my daughter had no understanding of the question of how many numerals or numbers there are between 'one' and 'five'. I think she lacked the concept of numerals as objects which can themselves be counted.

Gist of Idea

Children can use numbers, without a concept of them as countable objects

Source

Richard G. Heck (Cardinality, Counting and Equinumerosity [2000], 5)

Book Reference

-: 'Notre Dame Journal of Formal Logic' [-], p.201


A Reaction

I can't make any sense of numbers actually being objects, though clearly treating all sorts of things as objects helps thinking (as in 'the victory is all that matters').