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Single Idea 18271

[filed under theme 6. Mathematics / B. Foundations for Mathematics / 1. Foundations for Mathematics ]

Full Idea

It cannot be demanded that everything be proved, because that is impossible; but we can require that all propositions used without proof be expressly declared as such, so that we can see distinctly what the whole structure rests upon.

Gist of Idea

We can't prove everything, but we can spell out the unproved, so that foundations are clear

Source

Gottlob Frege (Grundgesetze der Arithmetik 1 (Basic Laws) [1893], p.2), quoted by J. Alberto Coffa - The Semantic Tradition from Kant to Carnap 7 'What'

Book Ref

Coffa,J.Alberto: 'The Semantic Tradition from Kant to Carnap' [CUP 1993], p.122


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]