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Full Idea
The abstract objects of modern mathematics, the real numbers, were invented by the mathematicians of the seventeenth century in order to simplify and to generalize the Greek science of quantity.
Gist of Idea
Real numbers were invented, as objects, to simplify and generalise 'quantity'
Source
John Mayberry (What Required for Foundation for Maths? [1994], p.407-2)
Book Ref
'Philosophy of Mathematics: anthology', ed/tr. Jacquette,Dale [Blackwell 2002], p.407
Related Idea
Idea 17782 Greek quantities were concrete, and ratio and proportion were their science [Mayberry]