Single Idea 9361

[catalogued under 18. Thought / E. Abstraction / 2. Abstracta by Selection]

Full Idea

Physical processes present us with phenomena in which the purely mathematical has to be separated out by abstraction.

Gist of Idea

We have to separate the mathematical from physical phenomena by abstraction

Source

C.I. Lewis (A Pragmatic Conception of the A Priori [1923], p.367)

Book Reference

Peirce,James,Dewey etc: 'Pragmatism - The Classic Writings', ed/tr. Thayer,H.S. [Hackett 1982], p.367


A Reaction

This is the father of modal logic endorsing traditional abstractionism, it seems. He is also, though, endorsing the view that a priori knowledge is created by us, with pragmatic ends in view.