Single Idea 17621

[catalogued under 2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 5. Objectivity]

Full Idea

As Kreisel has remarked, what is important is not the existence of mathematical objects, but the objectivity of mathematical statements.

Gist of Idea

What matters in mathematics is its objectivity, not the existence of the objects

Source

Michael Dummett (Frege Philosophy of Language (2nd ed) [1973], Ch.14)

Book Reference

Dummett,Michael: 'Frege Philosophy of Language' [Duckworth 1981], p.508


A Reaction

[see Maddy 2011:115 for the history of this idea] It seems rather unclear where Frege stands on objectivity. Maddy embraces it, following up this idea, and Tyler Burge's fat book on objectivity.