more on this theme | more from this thinker | more from this text
Full Idea
The instrument of generality in mathematics is the variable.
Gist of Idea
Mathematics generalises by using variables
Source
J. Alberto Coffa (The Semantic Tradition from Kant to Carnap [1991], 4 'The conc')
Book Ref
Coffa,J.Alberto: 'The Semantic Tradition from Kant to Carnap' [CUP 1993], p.69
A Reaction
I like the idea that there are variables in ordinary speech, pronouns being the most obvious example. 'Cats' is a variable involving quantification over a domain of lovable fluffy mammals.