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Single Idea 17435

[filed under theme 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 4. Using Numbers / a. Units ]

Full Idea

Objects do not by themselves naturally fall into countable units.

Gist of Idea

Objects do not naturally form countable units

Source

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

Book Ref

-: 'Synthese' [-], p.416


A Reaction

Hm. This seems to be modern Fregean orthodoxy. Why did the institution of counting ever get started if the things in the world didn't demand counting? Even birds are aware of the number of eggs in their nest (because they miss a stolen one).


The 5 ideas from 'Isolation and Non-arbitrary Division'

There is no deep reason why we count carrots but not asparagus [Koslicki]
Objects do not naturally form countable units [Koslicki]
We can still count squares, even if they overlap [Koslicki]
We struggle to count branches and waves because our concepts lack clear boundaries [Koslicki]
We talk of snow as what stays the same, when it is a heap or drift or expanse [Koslicki]