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Single Idea 17433

[filed under theme 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 4. Using Numbers / c. Counting procedure ]

Full Idea

The fact that there is overlap does not seem to inhibit our ability to count squares.

Gist of Idea

We can still count squares, even if they overlap

Source

Kathrin Koslicki (Isolation and Non-arbitrary Division [1997], 2.2)

Book Ref

-: 'Synthese' [-], p.411


A Reaction

She has a diagram of three squares overlapping slightly at their corners. Contrary to Frege, these seems to depend on a subliminal concept of the square that doesn't depend on language.

Related Idea

Idea 17427 Frege's 'isolation' could be absence of overlap, or drawing conceptual boundaries [Frege, by Koslicki]


The 32 ideas with the same theme [procedure for finding the size of a group of things]:

Two men do not make one thing, as well as themselves [Aristotle]
When we count, are we adding, or naming numbers? [Aristotle]
Whoever first counted to two must have seen the possibility of infinite counting [Novalis]
Numbers are just names devised for counting [Peirce]
In counting we see the human ability to relate, correspond and represent [Dedekind]
Numbers are needed for counting, so they need a meaning, and not just formal properties [Russell]
Counting explains none of the real problems about the foundations of arithmetic [Russell]
Counting puts an initial segment of a serial ordering 1-1 with some other entities [Sicha]
To know how many, you need a numerical quantifier, as well as equinumerosity [Sicha]
We can count intransitively (reciting numbers) without understanding transitive counting of items [Benacerraf]
Someone can recite numbers but not know how to count things; but not vice versa [Benacerraf]
Children may have three innate principles which enable them to learn to count [Goldman]
Parsons says counting is tagging as first, second, third..., and converting the last to a cardinal [Parsons,C, by Heck]
How many? must first partition an aggregate into sets, and then logic fixes its number [Yourgrau]
Nothing is 'intrinsically' numbered [Yourgrau]
It is controversial whether only 'numerical identity' allows two things to be counted as one [Noonan]
Finite cardinalities don't need numbers as objects; numerical quantifiers will do [White,NP]
Could you be intellectually acquainted with numbers, but unable to count objects? [Scruton]
In counting, numerals are used, not mentioned (as objects that have to correlated) [Heck]
Is counting basically mindless, and independent of the cardinality involved? [Heck]
Counting is the assignment of successively larger cardinal numbers to collections [Heck]
If set theory didn't found mathematics, it is still needed to count infinite sets [Potter]
Mesopotamian numbers applied to specific things, and then became abstract [Watson]
Counting results in well-ordering, and well-ordering makes counting possible [Lavine]
Some non-count nouns can be used for counting, as in 'several wines' or 'fewer cheeses' [Laycock]
Some apparent non-count words can take plural forms, such as 'snows' or 'waters' [Laycock]
To count, we must distinguish things, and have a series with successors in it [Morris,M]
Counting needs to distinguish things, and also needs the concept of a successor in a series [Morris,M]
Discriminating things for counting implies concepts of identity and distinctness [Morris,M]
There is no deep reason why we count carrots but not asparagus [Koslicki]
We can still count squares, even if they overlap [Koslicki]
A single object must not be counted twice, which needs knowledge of distinctness (negative identity) [Rumfitt]