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Single Idea 18117

[filed under theme 6. Mathematics / B. Foundations for Mathematics / 7. Mathematical Structuralism / e. Structuralism critique ]

Full Idea

Structuralism begins from a false premise, namely that numbers have no properties other than their relations to other numbers.

Gist of Idea

Structuralism falsely assumes relations to other numbers are numbers' only properties

Source

David Bostock (Philosophy of Mathematics [2009], 6.5)

Book Ref

Bostock,David: 'Philosophy of Mathematics: An Introduction' [Wiley-Blackwell 2009], p.192


A Reaction

Well said. Describing anything purely relationally strikes me as doomed, because you have to say why those things relate in those ways.