Single Idea 18157

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 3. Mathematical Nominalism]

Full Idea

The style of nominalism which aims to reduce statements about numbers to statements about their applications does not work for the natural numbers, because they have many applications, and it is arbitrary to choose just one of them.

Gist of Idea

Nominalism as based on application of numbers is no good, because there are too many applications

Source

David Bostock (Philosophy of Mathematics [2009], 9.B.5.iii)

Book Reference

Bostock,David: 'Philosophy of Mathematics: An Introduction' [Wiley-Blackwell 2009], p.301