Single Idea 13874

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

Full Idea

The most important consideration for numbers being objects is that they sustain the patterns of inference demanded by the reflexivity, transitivity and symmetry of identity.

Gist of Idea

Numbers seem to be objects because they exactly fit the inference patterns for identities

Source

Gottlob Frege (Grundlagen der Arithmetik (Foundations) [1884]), quoted by Crispin Wright - Frege's Concept of Numbers as Objects 1.iii

Book Reference

Wright,Crispin: 'Frege's Conception of Numbers' [Scots Philosophical Monographs 1983], p.11


A Reaction

But then if I say that the 'whereabouts of Jack' is identical to the 'whereabouts of Jill', that would seem to make whereaboutses into objects.