Single Idea 21644

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 3. Nature of Numbers / a. Numbers]

Full Idea

Number words have a singular term use, and adjectival (or determiner) use, and the symbolic use. The main question is how they relate to each other.

Gist of Idea

Numbers are used as singular terms, as adjectives, and as symbols

Source

Thomas Hofweber (Ontology and the Ambitions of Metaphysics [2016], 05.1)

Book Reference

Hofweber,Thomas: 'Ontology and the Ambitions of Metaphysics' [OUP 2018], p.117


A Reaction

Thus 'the number four is even', 'there are four moons', and '4 comes after 3'.

Related Idea

Idea 21645 'Semantic type coercion' is selecting the reading of a word to make the best sense [Hofweber]