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Full Idea
I construe arithmetic as an idealizing theory.
Gist of Idea
Arithmetic is an idealizing theory
Source
Philip Kitcher (The Nature of Mathematical Knowledge [1984], 06.2)
Book Ref
Kitcher,Philip: 'The Nature of Mathematical Knowledge' [OUP 1984], p.109
A Reaction
I find 'generalising' the most helpful word, because everyone seems to understand and accept the idea. 'Idealisation' invokes 'ideals', which lots of people dislike, and lots of philosophers seem to have trouble with 'abstraction'.