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Single Idea 8994

[filed under theme 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 2. Geometry ]

Full Idea

Geometry can be brought into line with logicism simply by identifying figures with arithmetical relations with which they are correlated thought analytic geometry.

Gist of Idea

If analytic geometry identifies figures with arithmetical relations, logicism can include geometry

Source

Willard Quine (Truth by Convention [1935], p.87)

Book Ref

Quine,Willard: 'Ways of Paradox and other essays' [Harvard 1976], p.87


A Reaction

Geometry was effectively reduced to arithmetic by Descartes and Fermat, so this seems right. You wonder, though, whether something isn't missing if you treat geometry as a set of equations. There is more on the screen than what's in the software.


The 10 ideas from 'Truth by Convention'

Logic needs general conventions, but that needs logic to apply them to individual cases [Quine, by Rey]
Claims that logic and mathematics are conventional are either empty, uninteresting, or false [Quine]
Logic isn't conventional, because logic is needed to infer logic from conventions [Quine]
If a convention cannot be communicated until after its adoption, what is its role? [Quine]
Quine quickly dismisses If-thenism [Quine, by Musgrave]
If mathematics follows from definitions, then it is conventional, and part of logic [Quine]
If analytic geometry identifies figures with arithmetical relations, logicism can include geometry [Quine]
Definition by words is determinate but relative; fixing contexts could make it absolute [Quine]
If if time is money then if time is not money then time is money then if if if time is not money... [Quine]
There are four different possible conventional accounts of geometry [Quine]