Single Idea 9965

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 3. Nature of Numbers / d. Natural numbers]

Full Idea

It makes no sense to suppose there might be just one natural number, say seventeen.

Gist of Idea

There couldn't just be one number, such as 17

Source

Michael Jubien (Ontology and Mathematical Truth [1977], p.113)

Book Reference

'Philosophy of Mathematics: anthology', ed/tr. Jacquette,Dale [Blackwell 2002], p.113


A Reaction

Hm. Not convinced. If numbers are essentially patterns, we might only have the number 'twelve', because we had built our religion around anything which exhibited that form (in any of its various arrangements). Nice point, though.