Single Idea 18281

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 1. Mathematics]

Full Idea

In mathematics everything is algorithm and nothing is meaning; even when it doesn't look like that because we seem to be using words to talk about mathematical things.

Gist of Idea

In mathematics everything is algorithm and nothing is meaning

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Philosophical Grammar [1932], p.468), quoted by J. Alberto Coffa - The Semantic Tradition from Kant to Carnap 13 'Constr'

Book Reference

Coffa,J.Alberto: 'The Semantic Tradition from Kant to Carnap' [CUP 1993], p.255


A Reaction

I would have thought that an algorithm needs some raw material to work with. This leads to the idea that meaning arises from rules of usage.