Single Idea 9852

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 4. Using Numbers / e. Counting by correlation]

Full Idea

A child understands 'there are just as many nuts as apples' as easily by pairing them off as by counting them.

Gist of Idea

We understand 'there are as many nuts as apples' as easily by pairing them as by counting them

Source

Michael Dummett (Frege philosophy of mathematics [1991], Ch.12)

Book Reference

Dummett,Michael: 'Frege: philosophy of mathematics' [Duckworth 1991], p.150


A Reaction

I find it very intriguing that you could know that two sets have the same number, without knowing any numbers. Is it like knowing two foreigners spoke the same words, without understanding them? Or is 'equinumerous' conceptually prior to 'number'?