Single Idea 8645

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / E. Structures of Logic / 1. Logical Form]

Full Idea

The proposition "Jupiter has four moons" can be converted into "the number of Jupiter's moons is four".

Gist of Idea

Convert "Jupiter has four moons" into "the number of Jupiter's moons is four"

Source

Gottlob Frege (Grundlagen der Arithmetik (Foundations) [1884], §57)

Book Reference

Frege,Gottlob: 'The Foundations of Arithmetic (Austin)', ed/tr. Austin,J.L. [Blackwell 1980], p.69


A Reaction

This seems to be the beginning of the modern exploration of the whole idea of logical form. It is one thing to find a logical forms which suits your current thesis (here, that numbers are not adjectival), but another to prove that it is the right form.

Related Idea

Idea 11031 'Jupiter has many moons' won't read as 'The number of Jupiter's moons equals the number many' [Rumfitt on Frege]