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Single Idea 10623

[filed under theme 6. Mathematics / B. Foundations for Mathematics / 5. Definitions of Number / c. Fregean numbers ]

Full Idea

Frege opts for his famous definition of numbers in terms of extensions of the concept 'equal to the concept F', but he then (in 'Grundgesetze') needs a theory of extensions or classes, which he provided by means of Basic Law V.

Gist of Idea

Frege defined number in terms of extensions of concepts, but needed Basic Law V to explain extensions

Source

report of Gottlob Frege (Grundgesetze der Arithmetik 1 (Basic Laws) [1893]) by B Hale / C Wright - Intro to 'The Reason's Proper Study' §1

Book Ref

Hale,B/Wright,C: 'The Reason's Proper Study' [OUP 2003], p.3


The 9 ideas from 'Grundgesetze der Arithmetik 1 (Basic Laws)'

Frege considered definite descriptions to be genuine singular terms [Frege, by Fitting/Mendelsohn]
Frege defined number in terms of extensions of concepts, but needed Basic Law V to explain extensions [Frege, by Hale/Wright]
Frege ignored Cantor's warning that a cardinal set is not just a concept-extension [Tait on Frege]
A concept is a function mapping objects onto truth-values, if they fall under the concept [Frege, by Dummett]
Frege took the study of concepts to be part of logic [Frege, by Shapiro]
Contradiction arises from Frege's substitutional account of second-order quantification [Dummett on Frege]
Real numbers are ratios of quantities, such as lengths or masses [Frege]
We can't prove everything, but we can spell out the unproved, so that foundations are clear [Frege]
My Basic Law V is a law of pure logic [Frege]