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Single Idea 14421

[filed under theme 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 3. Nature of Numbers / m. One ]

Full Idea

The discovery that 1 is a number must have been difficult.

Gist of Idea

Discovering that 1 is a number was difficult

Source

Bertrand Russell (Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy [1919], I)

Book Ref

Russell,Bertrand: 'Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy' [George Allen and Unwin 1975], p.3

A Reaction

Interesting that he calls it a 'discovery'. I am tempted to call it a 'decision'.

The 7 ideas with the same theme [status and nature of the number one]:

7485 For Pythagoreans 'one' is not a number, but the foundation of numbers [Pythagoras, by Watson]
12074 The one in number just is the particular [Aristotle]
9894 A unit is that according to which each existing thing is said to be one [Euclid]
12488 The idea of 'one' is the simplest, most obvious and most widespread idea [Locke]
8636 We can say 'a and b are F' if F is 'wise', but not if it is 'one' [Frege]
8654 One is the Number which belongs to the concept "identical with 0" [Frege]
14421 Discovering that 1 is a number was difficult [Russell]