Single Idea 10278

[catalogued under 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 3. Objects in Thought]

Full Idea

Frege is known for the idea that we do not have objects without concepts. Without concepts, there is nothing - no thing - to count.

Gist of Idea

Without concepts we would not have any objects

Source

report of Gottlob Frege (Grundlagen der Arithmetik (Foundations) [1884]) by Stewart Shapiro - Philosophy of Mathematics 8.4

Book Reference

Shapiro,Stewart: 'Philosophy of Mathematics:structure and ontology' [OUP 1997], p.257


A Reaction

A very helpful clarification. Thinking about the probable mental life of higher and lower animals, the proposal seems extremely plausible. Dogs have some concepts, slugs have none, so slugs do not exist in a world of objects. I like it.