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Single Idea 17628

[filed under theme 6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 4. Mathematical Empiricism / a. Mathematical empiricism ]

Full Idea

When 2 + 2 =4 was first discovered, it was probably inferred from the case of sheep and other concrete cases.

Gist of Idea

Arithmetic was probably inferred from relationships between physical objects

Source

Bertrand Russell (Regressive Method for Premises in Mathematics [1907], p.272)

Book Ref

Russell,Bertrand: 'Essays in Analysis', ed/tr. Lackey,Douglas [George Braziller 1973], p.272