Single Idea 8782

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 6. Logicism / a. Early logicism]

Full Idea

Since Frege's defence of his thesis that the laws of arithmetic are analytic depended upon a realm of independently existing objects - the finite cardinal numbers and the real numbers - his view amounted to a Platonist version of logicism.

Gist of Idea

Frege offered a Platonist version of logicism, committed to cardinal and real numbers

Source

report of Gottlob Frege (Grundlagen der Arithmetik (Foundations) [1884]) by B Hale / C Wright - Logicism in the 21st Century 1

Book Reference

'Oxf Handbk of Philosophy of Maths and Logic', ed/tr. Shapiro,Stewart [OUP 2007], p.166


A Reaction

Nice to have this spelled out. Along with Gödel, Frege is the most distinguished Platonist since the great man. Frege has lots of modern fans, but I would have thought that this makes his position a non-starter. Alternatives are needed.