Single Idea 14434

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / B. Foundations for Mathematics / 7. Mathematical Structuralism / a. Structuralism]

Full Idea

What matters in mathematics is not the intrinsic nature of our terms, but the logical nature of their interrelations.

Gist of Idea

What matters is the logical interrelation of mathematical terms, not their intrinsic nature

Source

Bertrand Russell (Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy [1919], VI)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy' [George Allen and Unwin 1975], p.59


A Reaction

If they have an instrinsic nature, that would matter far more, because that would dictate the interrelations. Structuralism seems to require that they don't actually have any intrinsic nature.