Single Idea 9951

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 5. Numbers as Adjectival]

Full Idea

Numbers as adjectives appear to attribute a property - but to what? Superficially it seems to be to the objects themselves, as it makes sense to say that a plague is 'deadly', but not that it is 'ten'.

Gist of Idea

It appears that numbers are adjectives, but they don't apply to a single object

Source

report of Gottlob Frege (Grundlagen der Arithmetik (Foundations) [1884]) by A.George / D.J.Velleman - Philosophies of Mathematics Ch.2

Book Reference

George,A/Velleman D.J.: 'Philosophies of Mathematics' [Blackwell 2002], p.23


A Reaction

Surely they could be adjectival if they were properties of groups? Groups can be 'numerous', or 'more than a hundred', or 'too many for this taxi'.