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Full Idea
One strategy is whenever we are presented with a sentence that might appear to entail the existence of numbers, all that we have to do is paraphrase it using a quantified logic, plus identity.
Gist of Idea
Maybe number statements can be paraphrased into quantifications plus identities
Source
Jonathan Tallant (Metaphysics: an introduction [2011], 03.5)
Book Ref
Tallant,Jonathan: 'Metaphysics - an introduction' [Continuum 2011], p.49
A Reaction
This nominalist strategy seems fine for manageable numbers, but gets in trouble with numbers too big to count (e.g. grains of sand in the world) , or genuine infinities.
| 18859 | Metaphysics is a quest for truthmakers [Tallant] |
| 18860 | A truthmaker is the minimal portion of reality that will do the job [Tallant] |
| 18861 | Maybe number statements can be paraphrased into quantifications plus identities [Tallant] |
| 18863 | What is the truthmaker for a possible new power? [Tallant] |
| 18862 | Are propositions all the thoughts and sentences that are possible? [Tallant] |
| 18864 | The wisdom of Plato and of Socrates are not the same property [Tallant] |
| 18865 | Substance must have two properties: individuation, and property-bearing [Tallant] |
| 18866 | Maybe only 'positive' truths need truth-makers [Tallant] |