Single Idea 4045

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 4. Using Numbers / c. Counting procedure]

Full Idea

It has been proposed (on the basis of observations) that young children have three innate principles of counting - one-to-one correspondence of number to item, stable order for numbers, and cardinality (which labels the nth item counted).

Gist of Idea

Children may have three innate principles which enable them to learn to count

Source

Alvin I. Goldman (Phil Applications of Cognitive Science [1993], p.60)

Book Reference

Goldman,Alvin I.: 'Philosophical Applications of Cognitive Science' [Westview 1993], p.60


A Reaction

I like the idea of observed patterns as central (which is the one-to-one principle). But the other two principles are plausible, and show why pure empiricism won't work.