Single Idea 19002

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

Full Idea

If I am a nominalist non-Platonist, I think it is false that 'there are primes over 10', but I want to be able to say it like everyone else. I argue that this because the statement has a part that I do believe, a part that remains interestingly true.

Gist of Idea

A nominalist can assert statements about mathematical objects, as being partly true

Source

Stephen Yablo (Aboutness [2014], 05.8)

Book Reference

Yablo,Stephen: 'Aboutness' [Princeton 2014], p.90


A Reaction

This is obviously a key motivation for Yablo's book, as it reinforces his fictional view of abstract objects, but aims to capture the phenomena, by investigating what such sentences are 'about'. Admirable.