Single Idea 10021

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

Full Idea

The mathematical object-theorist says a number is an object that represents a cardinality quantifier, with the representation relation as the entire essence of the nature of such objects as cardinal numbers like 4.

Gist of Idea

It is claimed that numbers are objects which essentially represent cardinality quantifiers

Source

Harold Hodes (Logicism and Ontological Commits. of Arithmetic [1984])

Book Reference

-: 'Journal of Philosophy' [-], p.139


A Reaction

[compressed] This a classic case of a theory beginning to look dubious once you spell it our precisely. The obvious thought is to make do with the numerical quantifiers, and dispense with the objects. Do other quantifiers need objects to support them?